Man, 73, at MBS job fair after giving up food stall as rent & expenses hit more than S$5,000 a month

A 73-year-old hawker was spotted at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) job fair on Mar. 9 with his wife hoping to apply for job openings in the hotel industry.

This was after the man closed his stall, Bukit Merah Central Wu Xiang Shrimp Cake, after working as a hawker for more than 40 years.

The couple could not keep up with the rent and other business expenses that totalled more than S$5,000 a month, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Rent kept increasing

The man, surnamed Hong, used to sell ngo hiang (fried spiced meat rolls) and shrimp cakes at a coffeeshop at Block 164 Bukit Merah Central.

However, he said the rent of the coffeeshop stall would increase each time the owner changed.

The couple, both in their 70s, decided to give up the business not long ago in January 2025 and make the switch to the hotel industry, which they felt is more stable for them.

Hong said he does not speak English very well and hopes to find a part-time job with a monthly salary of about S$1,500: "I am willing to try any position. Although I am not as physically fit as young people, I have decades of experience in the food industry and can endure hardships."

Hong and his wife live in Tiong Bahru and worked together at their ngo hiang stall in the Redhill area.

Might be tough landing a job

A Zaobao reporter spotted mostly young people who were at the fair, as well as some elderly prospective employees, such as Hong.

Following the interview, Hong expressed his lack of optimism as he was asked for his email address, but he said he did not even own a mobile phone.

He added that "many positions are full-time jobs operating on three shifts, which are not suitable for my age".

Hong said he has three married children, but they have their own families to care for.

At the moment, Hong said he and his wife can rely on their savings for daily expenses.

Having a job gives them extra income.

"Having a job keeps me active, and if I sit idle and do nothing, I'm afraid it will increase my risk of dementia," he said.

MBS hiring

According to Zaobao, the integrated resort operator has more than 1,200 job openings this year, up from more than 1,000 last year.

It has nearly 12,000 employees.

It is hiring for 25 departments, including chefs, housekeepers, call centre operators, technicians and even drivers.

According to Ministry of Manpower statistics in November 2024, among those aged 65 to 69, 50.5 per cent are working or looking for a job.

In 2014, the figure was 41.2 per cent, Zaobao reported.

For those aged 70 to 74, the rate increased from 25.7 per cent to 35 per cent over the same period.

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Top photo via Lianhe Zaobao