Higher cleaning bills may mean higher hawker food prices
Published on Nov 05, 2013
More hawkers are facing higher bills for cleaning services as companies raise workers' wages amid a labour crunch. -- ST FILE PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
By Lee Jian Xuan
More hawkers are facing higher bills for cleaning services as companies raise workers' wages amid a labour crunch.
And that could mean customers paying more when the costs are passed on.
Stall holders in at least four hawker centres here have seen their monthly costs for dish-clearing and table-wiping balloon by as much as $140 a month since September, checks by The Straits Times have shown.
These food centres include the ones in Chinatown, Redhill, Jalan Besar and Taman Jurong.
BACKGROUND STORY
PEAK-TIME CRUNCH
There are still not enough cleaners during peak periods, so I have to clear dishes and wipe tables myself.
- Chinatown Complex hawker, Madam Wong Mei Yoong, who felt that the fee hike had not translated into better cleaning
DECENT WAGE
If I want to do a good job of cleaning and pay my workers a decent wage, I need to charge at least $500 a month.
- Mr Lim Chin Boon, managing director of Clean Solutions
Get the full story from The Straits Times.
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