DBS Launches Adopt-a-Hawker Centre Pilot Programme to Support Hawkers in Singapore.
DBS, one of the largest banks in Singapore, has launched a new programme to support the livelihoods of hawkers in the country. The “Adopt-a-Hawker Centre” pilot programme was launched on 4 September 2023 and aims to boost the monthly earnings of hawkers by at least 10%. The programme is seen as a way to help those affected by the pandemic, which has hit the hawker industry hard.
The pilot programme was first launched in the Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market and Food Centre, with more than 50 stallholders participating in the event. DBS has adopted the centre and will be expanding the programme to include more hawker centres in the coming weeks.
Under the programme, DBS will help hawkers increase their monthly income by organising more group buys, purchasing meals and drinks every week, and distributing them to frontliners and others who are in need. The bank will also assist hawkers with digital tools to digitalise their business and make their stores more searchable online on social media and DBS platforms such as DBS PayLah!.
“This difficult period requires the collective action of the corporate and public sector, and community, to do what we can to ease the burden on hawkers, even as dining-in progressively resumes and Singapore re-opens. With the ‘Adopt-a-Hawker Centre’ initiative, we want to play a key role in building on ground-up efforts, leveraging our wide customer base as well as digital leadership to help boost hawkers’ earnings and enable them to better overcome this pandemic,” said Shee Tse Koon, DBS Singapore country head.
The programme is supported by SG Together Alliance for Action—Online Ordering for Hawkers, which aims to help hawkers increase their online presence to capture more demand as they previously relied on offline and walk-in sales.Table: List of Hawker Centres Adopted by DBS
| Hawker Centre | Location |
|---|---|
| Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market and Food Centre | Tanjong Pagar |
| Maxwell Food Centre | Chinatown |
| Old Airport Road Food Centre | Geylang |
| Tiong Bahru Market | Tiong Bahru |
| Chomp Chomp Food Centre | Serangoon Gardens |
How the Adopt-a-Hawker Centre Programme Works
The Adopt-a-Hawker Centre programme is designed to help hawkers increase their monthly income by at least 10%. Here’s how it works:
- DBS adopts a hawker centre and provides support to the hawkers in the centre.
- DBS organises group buys and purchases meals and drinks every week, which are distributed to frontliners and others who are in need.
- DBS helps hawkers increase their online presence by making their stores more searchable online on social media and DBS platforms such as DBS PayLah!.
- DBS assists hawkers with digital tools to digitalise their business.
Benefits of the Adopt-a-Hawker Centre Programme
The Adopt-a-Hawker Centre programme offers several benefits to hawkers, including:
- Increased monthly income by at least 10%
- Assistance with digital tools to digitalise their business
- More searchable online presence on social media and DBS platforms such as DBS PayLah!
- Group buys and purchases of meals and drinks every week, which are distributed to frontliners and others who are in need
Impact of the Pandemic on Hawkers in Singapore
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the hawker industry in Singapore. Many hawkers have seen a decline in business due to the restrictions on dining-in and the decrease in foot traffic. As a result, many hawkers have had to rely on online sales to stay afloat.According to a report by The Straits Times, the hawker industry in Singapore has been hit hard by the pandemic, with some hawkers reporting a decline in business of up to 70%. The report also noted that many hawkers have had to pivot to online sales to stay afloat, with some turning to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to promote their businesses.
The Adopt-a-Hawker Centre programme launched by DBS is a welcome initiative to support the livelihoods of hawkers in Singapore. The programme offers several benefits to hawkers, including increased monthly income, assistance with digital tools, and more searchable online presence. With the pandemic continuing to impact the hawker industry, initiatives like this are crucial to help hawkers overcome the challenges they face.
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