*Platinum Member*
Centennial Member
Posts: 107837
Liked By: 63055
Joined: 30 Jun 10
Followers:
3
Tipsters
Championship:
Player
has
not started
|
Hawker gets NEA warning for not being physically present at stall, pregnant wife sends daily pics as proof
Gary Yang- 20 Feb 2025, 10:15 am
A hawker couple running the Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang stall at 51 Yishun Avenue 11 has been issued a warning by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for not being physically present at their stall every day.
This is despite them actively managing the business through a structured system, technology, and a team of staff.
Frustration over NEA’s interpretation of tenancy agreement
In a Facebook post on 18 Feb, the stall owner Mr Noorman Mubarak voiced his frustration over NEA’s enforcement of the tenancy agreement clause that states hawkers must “personally manage” their stalls.
While the couple acknowledges this requirement, NEA interprets “personally” as physically being at the stall daily — a rule that has become a major challenge for them.
Having run the stall since 2017, the couple initially worked 12 to 18-hour days for four years. Mr Mubarak shared:
I wake up at 3am, my wife comes to the shop at 8am. After lunch, I nap for an hour before going back to the stall until 10pm.
Over time, they implemented standard operating procedures (SOPs) and utilised technology to improve efficiency.
This allowed them to handle administration, research, and development remotely, while their staff handled daily operations.
NEA insists hawkers must be physically present
However, NEA has now allegedly warned them that physical presence is mandatory, regardless of their management system.
Source: NEA
This means Mr Mubarak’s wife, who is 40 weeks pregnant, is still expected to be at the stall every day, even though she can effectively run it remotely.
After she gives birth, she will still be required to be present. Alternatively, she can officially assign someone to ‘pretend’ to be in charge.
To comply with NEA’s rules, the couple has resorted to documenting and sending photos of the wife’s presence at the stall daily.
Frustrated, Mr Mubarak, who is a third-generation hawker, declared this would mark the end of his journey as a hawker.
I highly discourage Singaporeans or PRs to be hawkers, they want you to remain in the stall until you give up.
He also expressed his disappointment in the system, warning aspiring hawkers that public hawker stalls are not designed for growth and success.
Netizens react to hawker’s plight
Many netizens sympathised with the couple, calling the rules outdated and rigid.
One user commented that authorities were forcing all hawkers into the same mould, applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
He also advised Mr Mubarak to “forget about all the glamorous hawkerpreneur spiel”.
Hawker NEA warning
Source: Facebook
Another netizen pointed out that Singapore prides itself as a first-world country, yet some policies seem to be moving backwards.
Hawker NEA warning
Source: Facebook
|
Main Menu >
Gossip Corner >
Pregnant hawker worry abt NEA rules post pic online to seek
[ 218 Chatters Online
]
1
Find all Topics Started by LONGSTER
Find all Posts by LONGSTER
Follow / Unfollow
PM LONGSTER
Thursday
12:06 PM (2 days ago)
2 Likes
Like
quote originally posted by seelangui:
