[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – The operator of the embattled Jurong West Hawker Center, previously reported to only have half of its positions open for business, does not renew its contract that expires in August, citing mediocre results.
Hawker Management, a subsidiary of the Koufu Group, said in a statement that the results of the street vendor center have not met its “ideal performance standards,” and that it will not be sustained after its three-year contract expires on June 6. August.
“Koufu, as a publicly traded company, has an obligation to safeguard the interests of our shareholders, therefore, we have made the difficult decision to exit the contract expiration in August 2020 to focus efforts on other aspects of our business. “said the operator.
Hawker Management added that it had been established to manage the Jurong West Hawker Center as part of Koufu’s corporate social responsibility efforts. With the termination of the contract, Koufu will seek to carry out such efforts in other ways, he said.
Vendors interested in the center will be helped to relocate to available positions in existing hawker centers and markets run by the National Environment Agency (NEA). They can also move to coffee shops or food restaurants operated by Koufu.
Those who want to change jobs or seek financial assistance can ask NEA for help.
Meanwhile, Hawker Management will give up job rentals from June through August 6, which combined with government help will mean a full exemption from April to August 6 and a 50 percent discount in March.
It will also offer a $ 1,000 relocation fee to eligible vendors.
The Straits Times had reported last May that only half of the 48 wet market stalls and street vendors in the two-story complex were occupied. The complex opened in 2017.
The center operates under the socially conscious street vendor center model, in which operators must have “a social mission.”
Tenants had said the empty stalls mean a lack of variety in both the street vendor center and market offerings, making it difficult to attract residents who have other options nearby.
NEA said in its statement Tuesday that it will carry out a request for proposal to seek new ideas from operators to improve the center’s operations and offerings.
It said: “With the low footprint and occupancy rates at the Jurong West Hawker Center even before the Covid-19 situation, it will be in everyone’s interest to seek new ideas and proposals to rejuvenate (the center) operations and offerings, to safeguard the interests of customers and sellers. “
He said he would seek proposals from socially conscious street vendor center operators to improve the center through options such as possible redesign or renovation.
It will also conduct community and stakeholder comment seeking.
“Therefore, it is estimated that the Jurong West Hawker Center will be temporarily closed after the departure of Hawker Management until it reopens sometime in the second half of 2021.”
He added that he will offer existing sellers a return to the center when it’s ready, and more details will be announced when they become available.
State Minister for Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said the move to seek ideas to modernize the street vendor center comes amid a poor business environment. This is due to the situation of Covid-19, which has led to measures such as the ban on eating in, strongly hitting food and beverage business operators.
He added: “NEA’s immediate priority is to work with Hawker Management to ensure that booth holders are well catered for during this transition period and to help everyone find a booth to continue their street vendor trade if they wish.”
Dr. Khor had said separately in Parliament that since the start of the circuit breaker period on April 7, about 20 to 30 percent of cooked food vendors across the island have chosen not to operate their stalls. .
Preschool teacher Janet Ng, 55, who lives across the road from the vendor center, said she rarely visits the vendor center and prefers the adjacent Pioneer Mall.
A giant supermarket and a Koufu food court in the mall already adequately serve residents’ grocery and restaurant needs, he said.
“The street vendor center is always very quiet and most of the stalls are always closed … there are not many options there,” he added.
“Ventilation is really very good there. It would be nice if it could be converted to be used for something else, like a community club.”
[ad_2]
