Shitty fight: toilet chairman vs hygiene chairman

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Follow the Japanese and have a culture that demands clean toilets​

FEB 10, 2024, 05:14 AM

I refer to the report “Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days: Japanese film about man who cleans public toilets is Oscar contender” (Feb 6).
The Japanese cannot accept dirty toilets. They get upset and complain to the owner of the premises immediately if they see dirty toilets. The operators apologise and clean up immediately.
By having a culture that demands cleanliness, the Japanese became drivers of good hygiene and enjoy a high level of cleanliness in public toilets.
The situation is different in Singapore. The National Environment Agency and Singapore Food Agency have put up posters reminding people to keep the environment and toilets clean.
This has not worked and there is still a blame culture among Singaporeans.
To succeed, we must be demand drivers, who insist on clean toilets from the operators, the same way the Japanese do.
This will lead to a new culture where operators have to ensure a hygienic environment as part of their service.

Jack Sim Juek Wah
Founder
Restroom Association of Singapore and the World Toilet Organisation

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Netizens mock toilet cleaning course but agencies say training required for cleaners​

The course covers the proper use of cleaning tools, proper cleaning of sanitary fixtures and the safe handling of cleaning agents. PHOTO: PEXELS

Carmen Sin

FEB 23, 2024

SINGAPORE – A $580 basic toilet cleaning course on the SkillsFuture portal drew ridicule from netizens this week, but agencies said such classes are part of mandatory training requirements for cleaners.
In response to queries, SkillsFuture Singapore and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint statement on Feb 22 that these classes teach existing and prospective cleaners “essential skills” for the washing of restrooms.
The 20 or so such classes found on the SkillsFuture portal range from basic to advanced and take between 30 and 40 hours to complete.
Before subsidies, most basic courses cost between $100 and $600. After SkillsFuture subsidies, the course fees range from $100 to $300.
On Feb 19, a screengrab of a listing for the “Perform basic cleaning of washrooms” course on SkillsFuture was posted on social media and roundly mocked for its $580 price tag before subsidies.
Netizens doubted the need for such a course and criticised the steep cost of $290, even after subsidies.
Facebook user Remaesh Krishnan commented: “Those days in army, we clean our toilets. No need course.”

But SkillsFuture and NEA said the course contributed significantly to the “professional development” of working cleaners.
In response to queries, a spokesman for one course provider, NTUC LearningHub, said these toilet cleaning courses aim to “professionalise the cleaning industry”.
The basic course, for instance, covers skills like the proper use of cleaning tools, proper cleaning of sanitary fixtures and the safe handling of cleaning agents, he added.

Its toilet washing courses, which range from $288 to $440 after subsidies, are mostly targeted at cleaning firms that pay to enrol their employees, the spokesman said.
The courses are in line with the Progressive Wage Model, facilitating “sustained wage growth for lower-wage workers by skills development, increased productivity and higher service standards”, he added.
The Progressive Wage Model is designed to improve the wages of Singapore’s lowest-paid sectors.
A six-year salary increment schedule is set out for cleaners in tandem with training and skills acquisition on their part.
Incentives are also provided to cleaning companies to enrol the cleaners in their employ.
For instance, absentee payroll capped at $100,000 a year for each firm is available, said the SkillsFuture and NEA statement.
Employers who sponsor their employees under the Workfare Skills Support scheme are also eligible for absentee payroll at up to 95 per cent of their hourly basic salary, capped at $13 an hour, it added.

Licensed businesses which do not send all their cleaners for the required courses under enhanced training requirements may be fined up to $5,000 and face suspension or revocation of their licences.
Since the training requirements took effect on Dec 31, 2022, more than 500 cleaners have attended the basic toilet cleaning course.
Cleaning firms The Straits Times spoke to said job seekers who have completed such courses are viewed favourably, but certification is not a prerequisite for hiring.
Conrad Maintenance Services chief executive Raymond Ng said: “With the courses, there will be priority for them to join us as cleaners, but as long as they have experience or a willing-to-learn attitude, we will hire them, too.”
New hires without certification will, in any case, be sent for the required training modules, said a spokesman for home cleaning firm SparkCleanz.
These modules – including the controversial basic toilet cleaning course – are “specifically designed to equip cleaners with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties effectively, maintain hygiene standards and ensure a safe working environment”, he added.
When asked for a reasonable price for the basic cleaning course, Mr Ng said anywhere between $250 and $350, though the sum should be fully subsidised by SkillsFuture credit.
Cleaner Sareswathy Mookiah, 52, who has been on the job for six years, said: “This kind of course, sooner or later, every company will send you.”
She added that she has attended around five training courses without ever paying a cent.
In line with the Progressive Wage Model guidelines, toilet or restroom cleaners are paid more than general cleaners.
“This is attributed to the specialised nature of restroom cleaning, and the additional skills and attention to detail required for maintaining hygiene standards in these areas,” said the SparkCleanz spokesman.
Under the current framework, all toilet or restroom cleaners now must be paid at least $1,795. By July 1, 2024, the amount must be at least $2,060. The salary must rise to at least $2,835 by July 1, 2028.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Task force recommends grants for renovations, deep cleaning to improve coffee shop toilet cleanliness​

The Public Toilets Task Force was formed in 2024 to study solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets here.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Zhaki Abdullah
Feb 22, 2025

SINGAPORE - A task force has recommended that coffee shop operators be given grants to undertake toilet renovations or incorporate regular deep cleaning in their restrooms.

To receive the grants, operators would need to be certified under a new standard for such eateries here, said the Public Toilets Task Force in a report released on Feb 21.

Co-chaired by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng and Public Hygiene Council chairman Andrew Khng, the task force was convened in 2024 to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets here.

The standard will be developed by the Restroom Association of Singapore, grading facilities on criteria such as cleanliness and maintenance, while accounting for the common constraints faced by coffee shops.

The coffee shop toilet renovation grant – aimed at updating and improving the design, features and ease of maintenance of toilets – will also require that in-house toilet cleaners undergo on-site training on routine cleaning, to help sustain cleanliness standards.

Meanwhile, the coffee shop toilet deep cleaning grant could require such eateries to adopt deep cleaning standards and ensure that deep cleaning is properly carried out. The task force said deep cleaning would remove odours and persistent stains that general cleaning might not be able to address.

“For example, grant conditions could require coffee shop supervisors to conduct regular checks on toilet cleanliness and in-house toilet cleaners to be trained on routine cleaning. These would ensure that grant recipients meet cleanliness standards,” the task force said in the report.

An islandwide study of 2,602 public toilets here by Singapore Management University in 2024 found coffee shop toilets to be among the dirtiest.

In 2020, the National Environment Agency (NEA) introduced a year-long Toilet Improvement Programme for coffee shops, co-funding operators up to 90 per cent of the cost of improving toilet design or adopting technology to facilitate their cleaning and maintenance, capped at $45,000.

However, only 44 coffee shops out of more than 1,000 islandwide signed up for the programme.

The 23-member task force also developed a list of recommended toilet design features to guide operators in understanding what a well-designed toilet that facilitates easy cleaning and maintenance should have.

Such features include the provision of at least one hand wash basin outside toilets for common use to prevent toilet floors from getting wet, as well as features such as exhaust fans to facilitate ventilation and dry wet floors.

The list also recommends that toilet entrances and common hand wash basins be at least 5m away from the nearest food stall where possible, with a physical wall between the basins and food stalls.

The task force called for toilet cleaners to have a simple pictorial guide with step-by-step instructions on toilet cleaning, as well as training in relevant courses.

It also recommended using technology such as feedback systems to enhance cleanliness.

In addition, a risk-based inspection regime could be introduced, with poorly performing toilets inspected more regularly.

The task force also proposed that a survey be carried out to study the user profile of poor-performing toilets, noting that this could help identify specific amenities that could be used to address the problems faced by certain groups in using toilets or keeping them clean.

“Together, we can create a Singapore that shines not just in its skyline, but in every corner, including at our public toilets,” said Mr Baey and Mr Khng in a foreword to the report.

“This is more than just a cleanliness campaign; it is a movement towards a more caring, considerate, clean, and hygienic society,” they added.

In a Facebook post, Mr Baey said the recommendations had been submitted to Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.


Thanking the task force for its “hard work and invaluable insights”, Ms Fu said her ministry would review the recommendations and provide its response during the upcoming debate on its budget.

In 2024, efforts to improve the cleanliness of public toilets were stepped up, with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) suspending 10 coffee shops for toilet-related and food safety offences under the Points Demerit System, compared with just one suspension each in 2022 and 2023.

Additionally, the SFA and NEA took more than 1,200 enforcement actions, such as fines and warnings, against owners of premises in 2024 over a lack of public toilet cleanliness – up from over 360 in 2023.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

More fines and warnings issued to owners of public toilets in 2024, the Year of Public Hygiene​

The new campaign tag line, “Everyone wins when our toilets are clean”, focuses on a call for collective action from both users and operators.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Tang Yi Qing
Nov 22, 2024

SINGAPORE – There has been a spike in enforcement actions taken against owners of public toilets in 2024, the Year of Public Hygiene, as designated by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

Figures from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) showed that 1,253 enforcement actions – comprising fines and warnings – related to public toilet cleanliness were taken against premises owners from Jan 1 to Nov 15.

This is more than triple the 367 enforcement actions taken over the same period in 2023.

In addition, 10 coffee shops have been suspended by SFA for toilet-related and food safety offences under the Points Demerit System in 2024, compared with just one suspension each in 2022 and 2023.

Owners or operators of public toilets can be fined up to $500 for not providing basic amenities, such as soap or toilet paper, or not keeping toilets clean. Coffee shops are suspended for one day if they accumulate 12 points within 12 months, according to the SFA website.

The clean-up is far from over.

A new campaign, the Cleaner Public Toilets Campaign 2024, was launched by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment, on Nov 21 at Senja Hawker Centre.

The campaign tag line, “Everyone wins when our toilets are clean”, focuses on a call for collective action from both users and operators.

This campaign is co-organised by NEA and the Public Hygiene Council (PHC). It is backed by the Restroom Association (Singapore) (RAS), SFA and Singapore Kindness Movement.

“It is everybody’s responsibility, and it is to everybody’s benefit if our public toilets are clean,” Mr Baey said. “Users also have to play a part in keeping the toilets clean.”

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng giving out campaign leaflets at Senja Hawker Centre on Nov 21. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The Public Toilet Task Force that Mr Baey co-chairs is looking into providing more resources to help operators build and better maintain their toilets.

The task force is also looking at how to nudge operators into considering upgrading their toilets more frequently, Mr Baey said.

Dr Abdul Jalil, SFA’s assistant chief executive of operations, said: “While regulatory measures are important, the sustained upkeep of these facilities is a joint responsibility between stakeholders, including the Government, the industry and members of the public.

“By making a conscious effort to keep our public toilets clean, we create a more pleasant and hygienic experience for all.”

Senja Hawker Centre in Bukit Panjang is one of the hawker centres that received a five-star rating under RAS’ Happy Toilet Programme.

A cubicle in the female toilet at Senja Hawker Centre. The hawker centre has received a five-star rating for the hygiene level of its toilets.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Design measures such as antibacterial floor tiles, scupper drains and rimless, anti-stain vortex flushing systems were used in its toilets to aid cleaning and maintenance.

Ms Sharifah Radiah, 37, a cleaner at Senja Hawker Centre, said patrons have higher expectations of the toilets at the hawker centre because of its high rating certificate displayed outside the toilets.

Asked for her thoughts on the new campaign, she said: “This campaign will benefit not only Senja Hawker Centre but also the rest of the hawker centres in Singapore.”

Bukit Panjang resident Steffenie Liu, 41, visits Senja Hawker Centre around two to three times a month. She uses the toilet every time she dines there and finds it “quite pleasant”.

“The toilets here are newer and cleaner,” she said, comparing them with those at other hawker centres.

Meanwhile, PHC, the new campaign’s co-organiser, successfully piloted a toilet cleanliness module in its Buddy Clean Workshop – part of the Keep Singapore Clean Movement in schools – to primary school pupils.

This initiative started with selected groups of pupils from Clementi Primary School and Kong Hwa School, with plans to introduce it to 15 primary schools by the end of 2025.

Students from Clementi Primary School playing games at Senja Hawker Centre on Nov 21.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Other than educating pupils on the importance of toilet hygiene, the module also teaches them to handle cleaning equipment like brooms and mops, which some of them use to clean the toilets at their school.

Clementi Primary School teacher Christina Chang, 37, said that the pupils who took part in cleaning their school’s toilets had a change in mindset after the session.

“It really opened their eyes to see how difficult it (cleaning the toilet) is,” she said.

Janice Teo, 10, one of the volunteers who cleaned the school’s toilets, said she enjoyed learning a new skill.

“I learnt that it’s not always the cleaner’s job to clean,” she said.

​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

S’pore coffee shops can tap $10m in grants to boost toilet cleanliness​

Coffee shop operators can apply for up to 95 per cent funding for toilet renovation costs, capped at $50,000 per coffee shop.PHOTO: ST FILE
Zhaki Abdullah
Mar 05, 2025

SINGAPORE – Coffee shop owners can soon tap $10 million from two grants to improve the cleanliness of the toilets at their premises.

Under a new $5 million Coffee Shop Toilet Renovation Grant, operators can apply to the National Environment Agency (NEA) for up to 95 per cent funding for costs, capped at $50,000 per coffee shop.

The grant aims to encourage operators to undertake renovations and achieve certification under an upcoming Happy Toilet Programme standard for coffee shops.

The standard will be developed by the Restroom Association (Singapore) (RAS) – a non-profit organisation which aims to build an “excellent restroom culture”.

Operators will also be able to tap NEA’s $5 million Coffee Shop Toilet Deep Cleaning Grant, for funding of up to 95 per cent of the cost of a two-year deep cleaning contract, capped at $25,000 per coffee shop.

“Successful grant applicants will also receive complimentary on-site toilet cleaning training at their coffee shops for in-house cleaners,” said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on March 4.

NEA will provide more details of the two grants later in 2025, the ministry added.

The two grants were among 10 recommendations by the Public Toilets Task Force in a recent report.

Responding to questions by various MPs – including Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang GRC) and Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) – about whether these recommendations would be implemented, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said her ministry had studied the task force’s recommendations and decided to endorse them.

Co-chaired by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng and Public Hygiene Council (PHC) chairman Andrew Khng, the task force was convened in 2024 to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets.

These included a list of recommended design features, such as placing toilet entrances and common hand wash basins at least 5m away from the nearest food stall where possible.

The task force focused primarily on restrooms that consistently fared poorly in cleanliness surveys, such as those at coffee shops and hawker centres.

A study by Singapore Management University of 2,602 public toilets islandwide in 2024 found coffee shop toilets to be among the dirtiest.

Speaking in Parliament on March 4 during the debate on his ministry’s budget, Mr Baey acknowledged that coffee shops are privately operated commercial premises.

But as “natural gathering points” for residents, they provide a public service to the community by keeping their toilets accessible both to patrons and other members of the public, reducing the need for the Government to build public toilets in the community.

“This is particularly important in an ageing population, as seniors may have more difficulties in managing bladder and bowel control,” he noted.

In a statement, MSE noted that coffee shops had high footfall but often faced “limited manpower in cleaning and maintaining the toilets”.


Responding to a question from Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) on whether similar grants would be extended to other public restrooms – such as those at community clubs or neighbourhood centres – Mr Baey said the focus is on coffee shop toilets due to how poorly they fared in cleanliness surveys.

Diverting resources to other premises would not address the issue at hand, he added.

The year-long Toilet Improvement Programme for coffee shops, which ended in October 2021, co-funded operators up to 90 per cent of the cost of improving the design of toilets or adopting technology to facilitate their cleaning and maintenance, capped at $45,000.

Only 44 coffee shops out of more than 1,000 islandwide completed improvement works under the programme.

Relying on grants alone is not enough, Mr Baey said, adding that users and community volunteers can also contribute to cleaner toilets.

In line with this, MSE endorses the task force’s recommendation to refresh RAS’ existing Happy Toilet Programme – a grading initiative for public toilets focused on areas such as cleanliness and user satisfaction – as well as the expansion of PHC’s Neighbourhood Toilets Community Group programme. The PHC initiative aims to educate operators and users about the shared responsibility of keeping public toilets clean.

Mr Baey added that the authorities will continue to take action against errant operators, including suspensions where necessary.

He noted that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and NEA in 2024 intensified inspections on public toilet cleanliness, with almost 19,000 such inspections carried out. These resulted in about 1,300 enforcement actions taken against premises’ owners and managers.

“I am heartened that premises have taken action to rectify lapses,” said Mr Baey. “Over time, we hope that these measures can break the cycle of dirty coffee shop toilets, so that we all can enjoy better and cleaner toilets.”

In February, it was reported that six coffee shops were fined and suspended for a day for toilet-related lapses. Five were repeat offenders which had racked up two or more strikes in a year for dirty or poorly maintained toilets, according to the SFA.

 

[WangChuk]

will changing all the toilets to the Japanese style water jet toilet helps??

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Grants to keep coffee shop toilets clean must be well-managed​

Mar 07, 2025

I refer to the article “S’pore coffee shops can tap $10m in grants to boost toilet cleanliness” (March 4).

It’s great that the spotlight is on public toilets, usually unseen but essential to the proper functioning of a public space and a critical baseline of good maintenance, and cleanliness of the overall facility. For me, they are linchpins of our public spaces.

The grants, while well-meaning, must be well-managed. In that respect, the ecosystem of the toilet renovation and worker training providers should be well-regulated. We do not want an instance where higher cost for service providers is seen after credit is disbursed.

In addition, how will we know if a grant has been put to good use and the revamp of a toilet is successful? Perhaps a checkpoint is required and a rolling “assessment sheet” of the providers is needed.

At the same time, how do we reward coffee shops that have already been spending effort and money to keep their places well-maintained? How do we reward outstanding cleaning staff who do their work fastidiously? And how do we incentivise citizens’ long-term good behaviour in keeping public toilets clean? The last question is harder to answer.

The structure of the toilets is one thing – and good design does go a long way to help the people who maintain them – such as providing paper towels so water is not flung on the floor, having proper ventilation, and having fewer doors to minimise high-touch surfaces.

I’m always slightly puzzled by the touch screens at some toilet exits that ask people to rate the toilets – these seem to be surfaces that should be avoided.

Good plumbing for the flushing and draining system is also critical. But equally essential in the long term are the efforts and mindsets of the people who maintain and use the toilets.

Samantha Wong

 

[A Singaporean]

How the fuck you expect a nation of coolie gene retards in hdb to have any hygiene standard ?

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Excerpts from readers’ letters​

Jan 10, 2025

Enforce cleanliness in coffee shop toilets

We need more immediate action from the authorities on the issue of dirty coffee shop toilets. I propose that a central body be set up to handle complaints.

A warning followed by a fine for coffee shop owners may be needed to ensure that standards are kept. Perhaps more resources are needed to look into this problem so that complaints are handled in timely fashion.


Coffee shop owners should recognise and accept that keeping the toilets of their establishments clean is a moral and civic duty. The cost will be a fraction of that of the shop, some of which have changed hands for millions. The owners owe it to the heartlanders who patronise their coffee shops.

Tay Chee Meng

Forum: Stricter penalties put in place for lapses in toilet cleanliness​

Jan 16, 2025

We thank Mr Tay Chee Meng for his letter “Enforce cleanliness in coffee shop toilets” (Jan 10).

Public toilets that are well-designed, well-maintained, and responsibly used are clean toilets which all users can enjoy. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has made efforts to support the enhancement of public toilet infrastructure to make maintenance easier.

The cooperation of premise owners is required to ensure public toilet cleanliness. Premise owners, including coffee shop operators, must also step up and co-own efforts by ensuring the provision of amenities, regular maintenance of sanitary fittings and upkeep of public toilet cleanliness standards. Where lapses are detected, NEA and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have been taking premise owners or operators of public toilets to task.


Since April 2020, NEA and SFA have put in place stricter penalties. Under the Environmental Public Health Act, the maximum fines on first conviction are between $1,000 and $5,000 for lapses in toilet cleanliness. The retail food business licence would also incur demerit points which may result in subsequent suspension.

From Jan 1, 2024, to Nov 15, 2024, about 900 enforcement actions were taken against coffee shop owners for offences such as failing to keep their toilets clean, failing to maintain sanitary fittings in good working condition, and failing to provide hand soap or toilet paper. SFA also suspended 10 coffee shops for toilet-related lapses under the points demerit system.

Some coffee shops have, however, set a good example by obtaining certification under the Restroom Association (Singapore)’s Happy Toilet Programme for their toilets.

On-ground engagement initiatives to raise awareness, drive action, and promote advocacy for cleaner public toilets remain important too. For example, the Public Hygiene Council has initiated the Neighbourhood Toilets Community Group programme, which forges partnerships between coffee shop operators and SBS Transit with the local community, to jointly care for public toilets.


Operators will step up their cleaning regime, while community volunteers will monitor cleanliness of the toilets, report findings to operators, and remind users to keep toilets clean.

All users must also exercise personal responsibility by keeping public toilet seats clean after use, flushing fully, keeping the floor dry, and throwing litter in the bins properly.


Ultimately, collective action is needed to improve public toilet cleanliness, from good public toilet design to adequate cleaning and maintenance, and responsible use.

Siti Suriani Abdul Majid
Senior Director, Joint Operations Division
Singapore Food Agency

​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Have paid turnstiles at coffee shop toilets to defray cleaning costs​

Jan 16, 2025

The writer of the letter “Enforce cleanliness in coffee shop toilets” (Jan 10) said keeping such toilets clean is the owners’ moral duty, and that the cost will be a fraction of that of the shop, some of which have changed hands for millions.

This may not be a fair comparison as the owners of the coffee shops are normally not the ones running the coffee shops. Most coffee shops are tenanted out to operators, who may also be earning a living by tending the drinks stall and sub-letting out stalls in the coffee shop.

I am speaking from my family experience. My late brother-in-law used to operate two coffee shops. To serve diners better, he renovated the toilets. Besides ensuring cleanliness of the coffee shop and that stallholders adhered to food regulations, his most challenging responsibility was ensuring enough manpower to keep the toilets clean, especially with irresponsible toilet users.

Perhaps coffee shops should install turnstiles at the toilet entrances to collect a fee from users to help defray the cost of manpower needed to keep the toilets clean.

Priscilla Poh Beng Hoon

 

[searcher1]

Hawker should stop providing cutlery set to Customer, not even takeaway plastic
Patron should come with their own Tupperware, Wet Wipe, Fork & Spoon IF they wish to dine at Hawker Centre.
Patron have to be wipe clean the table, clearing off any leftover bones, food stain before they can leave the premises.
Entire Hawker Centre only need 1 cleaner to go around clearing rubbish bin. Have more Food Ambassador to catch people who don't clean up.

 

[True Believer]

Forum: Grants to keep coffee shop toilets clean must be well-managed
I’m always slightly puzzled by the touch screens at some toilet exits that ask people to rate the toilets – these seem to be surfaces that should be avoided.
Good plumbing for the flushing and draining system is also critical. But equally essential in the long term are the efforts and mindsets of the people who maintain and use the toilets.
Samantha Wong

What's to stop the cleaners from giving themselves a sterling rating everyday at work?

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Coffee shop toilets found to be dirtiest in SMU study of 2,600 public loos​

Coffee shop toilets have consistently scored low marks since an islandwide study of public toilets began in 2016.

Feb 03, 2025

SINGAPORE – The cleanliness of coffee shop toilets here has not improved over the years despite the authorities imposing stiff penalties for lapses, according to an islandwide study of public toilets by the Singapore Management University (SMU).

Coffee shop toilets performed the worst, with a score of just 46.26 out of 100.

Hawker centre toilets fared better, with a score of 66.28, while toilets in shopping malls fared the best, scoring 77.01. MRT station toilets performed second best, with a score of 75.97.

The results of the study were released in late December 2024.

Conducted between August and September 2024, the study looked at 2,602 public toilets in 1,428 coffee shops, hawker centres, MRT stations and shopping malls in Singapore.

The team behind the study, led by SMU statistics principal lecturer Rosie Ching and comprising more than 200 undergraduates, visited the toilets to check them using 17 criteria. The criteria included the cleanliness of toilet bowls and sinks, as well as the availability of soap and toilet paper.

Out of all toilets surveyed, the study found below-acceptable standards for 14 attributes, with clogged sinks, dirty toilet bowls and insufficient ventilation being frequent complaints.

“Cleaning schedules were often outdated or entirely absent, with only taps, sinks and soap achieving reasonable ratings,” SMU said in a release.

Coffee shop toilets have consistently scored low marks, hovering at around 46 points, since the study – which was conducted in 2016, 2020, 2023 and 2024 – began.

One concern is the proximity of cooking facilities to dirty toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres, said Ms Ching, noting this suggested a correlation between the two.

“We found that these toilets – the toilets in close proximity to kitchens – rank very lowly on the toilet cleanliness index,” she said.

Photographs of these toilets would “make anyone’s appetite vanish in an instant”, she added.

Dirty toilets pose health risks such as the spread of gastrointestinal infections like salmonella.

The study looked at 2,602 public toilets in 1,428 coffee shops, hawker centres, MRT stations and shopping malls in Singapore.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

As part of the study, 4,905 people – 510 employees and 4,395 customers – were interviewed for insights into “perceptions of toilet cleanliness”.

Almost half of the respondents said they were willing to pay to use public toilets if their cleanliness could be guaranteed.


Of those who were willing to pay, 82 per cent said they were open to paying between 10 cents and 30 cents, with 42 per cent even willing to fork out 50 cents to over $1 for a spotless experience.


While the toilets at coffee shops, which are privately run, are generally free to use, some town councils impose fees to use the toilets at certain hawker centres.

Though 42 per cent of respondents attributed dirty public toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres to “irresponsible users”, Ms Ching said the onus of ensuring their cleanliness is on their operators.

Noting an overlap in users among toilets in various locations, she said this suggested the main difference was in operators’ efforts in keeping toilets clean.

Ms Ching suggested that a rating system for public toilets – similar to the Singapore Food Agency’s (SFA) Safety Assurance for Food Establishments framework for eateries – could help ensure their cleanliness.

Speaking to The Straits Times, World Toilet Organisation founder Jack Sim noted that only 44 coffee shops out of more than 1,000 islandwide had signed up for the year-long Toilet Improvement Programme, which was rolled out in October 2020.

The programme provides up to 90 per cent co-funding, capped at $45,000, for coffee shop owners or operators to improve toilet design, install sanitary fittings or adopt technology to facilitate the cleaning and maintenance of toilets in coffee shops.

Mr Sim suggested that operators of dirty toilets could be publicly named and shamed to encourage cleanliness.

ST has contacted coffee shop associations here for comment.

Over the past year, the authorities have stepped up efforts to improve the cleanliness of public toilets.

In 2024, the SFA suspended 10 coffee shops for toilet-related and food safety offences under the Points Demerit System, compared with just one suspension each in 2022 and 2023.

This was in addition to the SFA and National Environment Agency (NEA) taking more than 1,200 enforcement actions, such as fines and warnings, against owners of premises in 2024 over a lack of public toilet cleanliness – up from over 360 the previous year.

In November 2024, the Cleaner Public Toilets Campaign was launched by the NEA and the Public Hygiene Council.

Meanwhile, the Public Toilets Task Force – chaired by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng – is looking into providing operators with more resources to help build and better maintain their toilets, while also exploring ways to encourage them to upgrade their toilets more frequently.

Staying clean in public toilets​

Some simple practices can help you stay clean when using the toilet.

Close the toilet bowl lid when flushing​

Closing the toilet bowl lid when flushing can help stop the spread of faecal bacteria. A study by researchers from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals in Britain, published in the Journal Of Hospital Infection in 2012, found that flushing with the lid up can spray diarrhoea-causing bacteria by as much as 25cm above the toilet seat.

Wash your hands​

It may be common sense, but one study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology in 2019, estimated that only about 26 per cent of people worldwide wash their hands with soap after potential “faecal contact” in restrooms. Washing your hands thoroughly after using the toilet can help prevent a range of diseases, such as influenza and hand, foot and mouth disease.

Refrain from using your phone in the toilet​

Not using your phone while in the restroom could prevent diseases. A 2011 study, conducted by researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Queen Mary University of London, suggested that as many as one in six mobile phones in Britain was contaminated with faecal matter containing the E. coli bacterium, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

What's to stop the cleaners from giving themselves a sterling rating everyday at work?

Ownself rate ownself?
They learn from their PAP masters who "ownself check ownself".

 

[True Believer]

Ownself rate ownself? They learn from their PAP masters who "ownself check ownself".

The PAP has the power "to decide how much to pay themselves". How wonderful!

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Coffee shops can balance toilet hygiene and costs for better business​

Feb 05, 2025

A recent study by Singapore Management University found that coffee shop toilets were the dirtiest among more than 2,600 toilets surveyed across Singapore (Coffee shop toilets found to be the dirtiest in SMU study of 2,600 public loos, Feb 3).

While hygiene standards are crucial, could ageing infrastructure and facilities be contributing to these poor scores? Unlike hawker centres, which undergo periodic government-funded renovations, private coffee shops do not always have structured renovation cycles.

These operators are profit-driven businesses focused on maximising returns for their owners. Upgrading toilets – especially in older buildings – can be costly, and some operators may be reluctant to invest in such improvements if they do not see a direct financial benefit.


The challenge is how to encourage improvements without imposing additional regulations that could increase costs for businesses and, ultimately, consumers.

Instead of a punitive approach, a system that rewards good hygiene practices could be more effective in raising standards while keeping costs manageable.

One approach is to incentivise coffee shop tenants and staff to take greater ownership of toilet cleanliness. Stallholders, who have a vested interest in attracting customers, could be offered rental discounts or other benefits for maintaining hygiene standards in shared facilities.

Coffee shop owners could also reward cleaning contractors through an outcome-based contract, where performance incentives are tied to cleanliness levels rather than just routine cleaning schedules. This way, cleaners have a direct motivation to ensure that toilets remain well-maintained throughout the day, rather than merely meeting the bare minimum required.

Beyond financial incentives, consumer-driven recognition can also play a role. Coffee shops with clean toilets could be recognised through a voluntary industry-led hygiene rating system.

Operators that consistently maintain high standards may see increased customer traffic, creating a business incentive to invest in better cleanliness. When hygiene translates into customer preference and higher sales, it becomes a business advantage rather than just a compliance issue.


Rather than relying on stricter regulations or government subsidies, businesses should view hygiene improvements as an investment in customer experience and long-term sustainability.

A clean environment not only enhances customer satisfaction but also fosters greater trust in the establishment.

By rewarding good hygiene practices – whether through rental incentives, outcome-based cleaning contracts or consumer recognition – coffee shop operators can raise standards in a sustainable way.

Instead of seeing hygiene as an added cost, it should be recognised as an opportunity to improve business and build customer loyalty.

Martin Lee Ming Han

 

[jsctan]

School disciplinary master lai liao going after adult customers as if still stuck in a school instead of going after the shoddy work of cleaners & their well paid contractors bosses.

 

[Nanodick]

Kopitiam toilets are not for human use one in singapore

 

[k1976]

Keep calm keep shitting

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: No incentive to clean coffee shop toilets as patrons interested only in food​

Feb 06, 2025

I refer to the Forum letter “Coffee shops can balance toilet hygiene and costs for better business ” (Feb 5).

Lots of coffee shops need repairs but the mentality of coffee shop owners is to save every single cent.

When the Government offered coffee shops 90 per cent co-funding to renovate their toilets, only 44 out of around 1,000 applied.

Why? The owners said everyone in Singapore already knows coffee shop toilets are dirty but that it doesn’t affect business. Coffee shop food is cheap and delicious, which is attractive enough to diners.

To these owners, there is no benefit in cleaning up and that saves $2,000 every month in cleaning expenses.

Enforcement is the only way because there are no economic incentives currently. Shutdowns, naming and shaming would work best.

Jack Sim