Domestic workers sell food at Lucky Plaza bus stop, 50 packets in 3 hours

UPDATE on Jan. 23 at 10:30am: This article has been updated with a statement from SFA.

Scenes of woman believed to be foreign domestic workers setting up makeshift stalls to sell homemade food at MRT exits and a bus stop near Lucky Plaza of late have sparked controversy.

Nearby businesses expressed worries that the emergence of such sellers may affect their livelihood, while concerns were also raised about whether the sold food is safe for consumption.

50 packets sold in 3 hours

A Shin Min Daily News reporter visited the area on Jan. 19 (Sunday) and observed six women hawking their wares in the vicinity of Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road.

Two were seen sitting next to the escalator at Orchard Road MRT station with bags of homemade food at their feet.

Four other women set up shop at a crowded bus stop nearby.

They placed about a dozen bags of food on a low wall, as well as one of the bus stop seats, and stood around to chat or bargain with customers.

Some sellers would use pen and paper to record orders.

Business appeared brisk, with the "stall" at the bus stop selling 50 packets of food within three hours, Shin Min reported.

One seller told Shin Min that their group consisted of Filipino domestic workers who would cook traditional dishes at home to sell for extra cash.

The dishes they made included bee hoon, rice cakes and other snacks, packaged in plastic containers for sale.

Another seller told Shin Min that they would take orders from regular customers and cater food directly to venues with gatherings.

Sellers criticised

Despite the apparent market for their wares, these sellers also faced criticism.

A grocery store manager in Lucky Plaza, Jennifer (transliteration), shared her concerns with Shin Min that she heard these sellers hawk food which is similar to what she sells in-store.

"They don't even need to pay rent," Jennifer said.

An employee of a shop nearby, which specialises in traditional Filipino food, told Shin Min that these illegal hawkers have been around for the past year, and would move around to do business.

"Ever since they came, our business has gone down by 20 to 30 per cent," she added.

A retiree surnamed Zhang (transliteration) also aired his concerns about food safety: "Home-cooked food may not adhere to food safety requirements. If you fall sick from it, there's nowhere to lodge a complaint."

Is this allowed in Singapore?

In response to Mothership's enquiries, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) confirmed that it is investigating the matter and will take enforcement action against those caught selling food products in public spaces without a valid licence.

Under the Environmental Public Health Act, the hawking of goods and food products in public spaces without a valid licence issued by SFA is not permitted.

Unregulated street food hawking causes disamenities and poses a risk to public health, said SFA.

SFA noted that unregulated street hawkers are transitory and cannot be traced if buyers face problems with their purchases.

"Food sold via illegal hawking may be unsafe, as such food items may not meet SFA’s food safety requirements. Through such modes of sales, these illegal street hawkers are in effect passing risks to the unsuspecting consumer to bear", said SFA.

SFA urged members of the public who come across any suspected illegal hawking of goods and/or food not to patronise them, but to make a report via SFA's online feedback form (www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback).

SFA added that illegal hawkers in financial difficulties are referred to social service agencies for assistance.

This is not the first time that unlicensed hawkers have been spotted selling wares outside Lucky Plaza.

In 2017, Lucky Plaza merchants complained about domestic workers setting up illegal roadside stalls outside the mall to sell clothes, handbags and other wares, Shin Min reported.

Authorities conducted checks and took enforcement action against five foreigners.

Related articles

Top image from Shin Min Daily News