May 31, 12:07 PM 
Cellarbration.com.sg The Minister for Communications and Information, S Iswaran, announced the creation of the SG Digital Office (SDO), under the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) today (May 31).
The new agency aims to increase the adoption of digital practices amongst our community, such as e-payment systems in Hawker centres, wet markets and coffeeshops.
1,000 digital ambassadors to be recruited in June 2020
The minister announced that the SDO will recruit 1,000 digital ambassadors by the end of June 2020.
These ambassadors will be deployed to work with companies, community groups and member of the public to educate and encourage all seniors, and stallholders in Hawker centres, wet markets, coffeeshops and industrial canteens to adopt relevant digital systems and practices.
The digital ambassadors, which consists of full-time staff and volunteers, will aim to get stallholders to adopt SGQR codes for e-payment across 112 hawker centres and wet markets in June this year.
The government's goal is help these 18,000 stallholders use a unified e-payment solution by June next year.
S$1,500 incentive for stallholders
In his announcement, Iswaran mentioned that government agencies, such as IMDA, National Environment Agency, Jurong Town Corporation, Housing Development Board and Enterprise Singapore, will provide a cash bonus to stallholders who adopt the e-payment system.
A bonus of S$300 per month will be provided over five months to encourage more stallholders at hawker centres, wet markets, coffee shops, and industrial canteens to use e-payments.
Getting seniors onboard with digital practices
In addition to reaching out to stallholders, digital ambassadors will also be tasked to reach out and help 100,000 seniors to improve their digital skills by March 2021.
This move aims to include seniors in the nation's digital efforts, so that they can communicate and transact digitally with other citizens.
For seniors from lower-incomes households, financial support will be provided to purchase the necessary digital devices.
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Top image via NEA
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