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Budget meals will have to be offered by 2026 at all coffee shops leased from the Housing and Development Board (HDB).

The requirement was announced by Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann on March 2 during the Committee of Supply debate.

The requirement for budget meals has been in place since 2018, but it was previously meant for new coffee shops leased from HDB.

Moving forward, as a condition for the renewal of their three-year tenancy, all rental coffee shops up for renewal from May 2023 will have to provide four budget meals and two budget drinks.

Cheap food options must be "more certain and pervasive", Sim said.

Under the new tenancy requirements, budget meals will be offered at all 374 coffee shops under HDB by 2026.

This is nearly half of all coffee shops located in HDB estates now, except for the 402 owned and managed by private operators.

What is a budget meal?

Budget meals at newly leased coffee shops must be from two or more different stalls, and are full meal options.

They are not supposed to be side dishes or snacks.

Two of the budget meals must be rice-based, and at least one must be halal.

There must be at least two budget drinks -- kopi-o (black coffee) and teh-o (black tea).

The requirement is different for the existing 72 coffee shops that already offer budget meals.

They are required to provide six budget food dishes.

Such fare include economic rice with two vegetables and one meat, chicken rice, fishball noodles and mee rebus.

Budget meals at various estates are usually priced around S$3 to S$3.50.

Basic drinks cost around S$1 or so.

The housing authority said it will offer a rental discount of 5 per cent off the renewal rents for one year, starting from when the budget meal requirement is met.

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