Prices of hawker food in Sg is considerably low for a developed nation like ours, cheap even. Fishball noodle $3-$3.50, Nasi Briyani $4.50, chicken rice $3 , roti prata 90cts, or so etc.. I read a survey from CASE (Oct 2014), on their study on 503 hawkers and their pricing. Thing is, it seems they are bent on keeping the prices affordable and competitive : (read- cheap) and that we encourage customers to patronise hawkers that continue to offer good at good value for money. At the same time, hawker stalls are set at market rates and good food supplies are never sold at good value (the chicken rice fella pay same for fresh fowl as MBS restns) and govt is also encouraging employers to pay more to workers. Also, they pay privatised company prices on gas and water...The report even found it newsworthy to mention that there are now less hawkers charging lower prices! (like that is a real mystery in todays living cost). So why do they want to give the idea that hawkers will only get their support if their prices are low or lower, when everybody else wants to make more a month. This thinking sets a death knell for local food culture, future and continuity. I mean, really, who wants to be in this meaningful trade if there is this unseen pressure of cheap., cheap,. cheap hawker food mentality in our midst. Street Food professionals and hawkers, like you, are looking to make a decent living too. We cannot deny them this , esp in the midst of our fading food culture. Makansutra
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:36:02 +0000