On The Red Dot: Hawk This Way
The median age of hawkers in Singapore is 59 years old, and many do not have anyone to take over their stalls should they retire. Even hawkers running popular stalls must contend with the lack of successors. With no successors to take over their stalls, some older hawkers contemplate giving up their decades-old legacy. As the pandemic takes its toll, their retirement might happen earlier than planned. After weathering last year’s Circuit Breaker, this year, Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) is once again putting pressure on hawkers, as dining-in is now prohibited. This is especially so for older hawkers who are illiterate or not tech-savvy enough to get on delivery platforms. In this On The Red Dot series, we tell the stories of some of these hawkers whose legacies could well disappear soon. We hear how they started their stalls, how they worked on their recipes and how they built up their customer base. And then we learn how the new round of Covid measures has impacted them and how they feel about their imminent retirement.
Cast & Crew
- Oldest First
- Newest First
The median age of hawkers in Singapore is 59 years old, and many do not have anyone to take over their stalls should they retire. Even hawkers running popular stalls must contend with the lack of successors. With no successors to take over their stalls, some older hawkers contemplate giving up their decades-old legacy. As the pandemic takes its toll, their retirement might happen earlier than planned. After weathering last year’s Circuit Breaker, this year, Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) is once again putting pressure on hawkers, as dining-in is now prohibited. This is especially so for older hawkers who are illiterate or not tech-savvy enough to get on delivery platforms. In this On The Red Dot series, we tell the stories of some of these hawkers whose legacies could well disappear soon. We hear how they started their stalls, how they worked on their recipes and how they built up their customer base. And then we learn how the new round of Covid measures has impacted them and how they feel about their imminent retirement.
Located in the CBD, Maxwell Food Centre is one of Singapore’s most well-known hawker centres. But with work-from-home now the default, the absence of working crowds takes a toll on the hawkers there.
Located in the CBD, Maxwell Food Centre is one of Singapore’s most well-known hawker centres. But with work-from-home now the default, the absence of working crowds takes a toll on the hawkers there.
With COVID-19 restricting dining-in, delivery has become a lifeline for hawkers. But for Ah Tee Ko Ko Mee and My Cosy Corner, not having a presence on delivery platforms could become very costly.
With COVID-19 restricting dining-in, delivery has become a lifeline for hawkers. But for Ah Tee Ko Ko Mee and My Cosy Corner, not having a presence on delivery platforms could become very costly.
The Changs make curry puffs with a twist. Gina's vadai recipe once saved her life. But as customers prioritise staple meals for takeaways during the pandemic, will these snack sellers survive?
The Changs make curry puffs with a twist. Gina's vadai recipe once saved her life. But as customers prioritise staple meals for takeaways during the pandemic, will these snack sellers survive?