Proposals · Part II · Rebuilding the hawker economy
Hawker Apprentice Work Pass (deferred to Ideas for Later)
Deferred: a pass for one foreign apprentice a stall, moved to Ideas for Later after the Government left its rules unchanged in September 2026.
- DEFERRED · NOW IN IDEAS FOR LATER (§7.9)
Leong Mun Wai proposed one work permit holder per stall on 13 November 2024, and Dr Koh called it "not inconceivable"; on 10 September 2026 Minister Grace Fu, asked by Kenneth Tiong why work permit holders may work in coffeeshops but not in hawker centres, left the rules as they are, saying "Hawker centres are a unique part of Singapore's cultural heritage and it is important to preserve the local identity" (MSE, 10 Sep 2026; MOM gave the same rule on 25 Feb 2026). Long-term visit pass holders may already work as assistants: about 170 in the first six months, about 300 by 1 August 2026. The idea now waits in §7.9, and §2.8 says why.
Who pays
BUILDS ON
Where the library discusses it
Note: The pass is not in the levers, the package, the budget or the ask.
Related proposals
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower. Are hawkers and food stall holders expected to comply with Food Services PWM wage and training? (2024-03-14)
- Chua, N. (Institute of Policy Studies). When hawker brands expand: impact and implications of commodification (IPS News Fellowship paper) (2024-06)
- Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. Written reply to PQ on foreign workers to assist elderly hawkers (2023-04-21)
- MSE. written reply on hawker centre manpower (Kenneth Tiong), 10 Sep 2026 (hawker centres "a unique part of Singapore's cultural heritage"; stallholding kept to citizens and PRs; about 300 LTVP and LTVP+ assistants at 1 Aug 2026; policies reviewed "where necessary") (2026-09-10)
- MOM. written answer on foreign worker policies for hawkers and small F&B operators (Jessica Tan), 25 Feb 2026 ("To preserve the local identity of our hawker culture and heritage") (2026-02-25)