The Singapore government has reached out to some 200 vendors plying their trade at Sungei Road flea market, which is set to be closed next week to make way for redevelopment in the area. More than 60 vendors have received some form of assistance, according to Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources Dr Amy Khor on Monday.
Responding to questions from MP Lee Bee Wah and Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Kok Heng Lun, the vendors in who’ve come forward to seek help are currently being assisted. The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has set aside more than 40 lock-up stalls in hawker centres for those who wish to continue plying their trade, 29 of which have been allocated at the nearby Chinatown Market as well as the Golden Mile Food Centre.
“To assist them in their transition, we have offered the 11 original permit holders a 100 per cent rental rebate for the first year and a 50 per cent rental rebate for the second year. For all other users, we have offered a 50 per cent rental rebate for the first 2 years on a goodwill basis, provided they live in public housing and do not own more than one property,” she explained.
Besides store allocation, Workforce Singapore (WSG) has been providing job placement aid to the Sungei Road Hawking Zone vendors looking for employment. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Central Singapore CDC have also been actively helping those who require financial assistance to get help through various schemes, she said. 18 out of 23 individuals who applied for financial assistance have been deemed eligible and have since received financial assistance.
That’s good and all, we believe, but all the state-provided assistance in the world won’t be able to replace the historical importance and heritage value of the country’s largest and oldest flea market.
