The Hawker Hero Behind 'Hawkers United': Preserving A Dying Trade | On The Red Dot

Key Concepts

• Hawker Culture: The traditional street food culture of Singapore, facing challenges due to aging hawkers and changing economic conditions.
• Hawkers United Club: A Facebook group created to support hawkers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
• Circuit Breaker (Singapore): A period of strict lockdown measures implemented in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sakup Picker (Delivery Platform): Refers to the use of delivery platforms during the circuit breaker period.
• Second Generation Hawker: A hawker who took over the business from their parents.
• Bento Set: A boxed meal popularized by the speaker’s stall, initially gaining traction through social media.

The Ko Hawker & Supporting Singapore’s Hawker Culture

This account details the experiences of a second-generation hawker who leveraged social media to support the wider hawker community in Singapore, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent challenges facing the industry. The speaker, often referred to as “the Ko hawker,” inherited their family business in 2014, initially experiencing success with a viral bento set, attracting both local and international attention (CNN, BBC).

The Impact of COVID-19 & the Rise of Hawkers United Club

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the hawker business. The cessation of dine-in services, even at hawker centers and coffee shops, and the loss of tourism led to a significant decline in revenue. The implementation of the “circuit breaker” and reliance on delivery platforms like “Sakup Picker” presented further difficulties. The speaker expressed particular concern for elderly hawkers, many of whom lacked the digital literacy to navigate these new systems.

Recognizing this need, the speaker created the “Hawkers United Club” Facebook group in response to the circuit breaker announcement. The group’s primary goal was to help hawkers overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19 by spreading awareness of operating stalls and assisting those less tech-savvy. The group experienced rapid growth, reaching over 200-300 shares within hours and exceeding 10,000 members within a day. A particularly viral post featured an elderly uncle at a hawker center, driving significant foot traffic to his stall.

Operational Challenges & Personal Sacrifice

Managing the rapidly growing “Hawkers United Club” required immense personal dedication. The speaker initially handled all communications personally, responding to messages and WhatsApp inquiries from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00-3:00 a.m. daily for the first month, resulting in minimal sleep. This dedication led the speaker to jokingly claim they were “the one Singaporean who got the most quarantine during COVID period,” having contracted the virus three times while visiting hawker centers to provide assistance (14 days, 14 days, and 5 days quarantine periods).

Preserving Hawker Culture & Addressing Future Challenges

The speaker emphasizes the critical need to preserve Singapore’s local hawker culture, particularly as a wave of first-generation hawkers approach retirement between 2022 and 2025, with no successors to take over their businesses. “Hawkers United” currently boasts 333,000 members, encompassing hawkers, food critics, media representatives, F&B owners, and food enthusiasts.

The speaker’s strategy involves leveraging the group to announce the impending retirement of beloved hawkers, generating a final surge of support from loyal customers. This approach allows customers a “last time” opportunity to enjoy their favorite dishes. Regular visits to hawker centers on Mondays and Fridays allow the speaker to directly engage with hawkers and understand their current challenges.

Advocacy & Government Engagement

The speaker’s increased media presence since 2016 (starting with traction in 2016) has facilitated connections with government agencies. They regularly share the problems faced by hawkers, particularly during renovations of hawker centers, offering suggestions for improvement (e.g., humidity control).

In November 2024, the speaker was invited by Senior Minister of State Mr. Kopokum to discuss hawker-related issues. This meeting, lasting three to four hours, involved presenting a range of concerns directly from hawkers. The speaker consistently prioritizes representing the hawkers’ voice, even at the expense of their own business, often requiring their mother and sister to cover their responsibilities while attending meetings.

Current Business Climate & Continued Commitment

Despite efforts, the speaker acknowledges a significant decline in business over the past two years, estimating a loss of 40-50% in revenue, resulting in “very slim margin profit.” Despite these challenges, and the personal toll it takes, the speaker remains committed to advocating for hawkers and addressing the problems they face. As stated, “I really got no time for myself… but I won’t stop represent the hawkers voice up the problem with faces.”