10/12/2018

Training to become hawkers

I read in the main media of this great opportunity to become hawkers in Singapore’s famous hawker culture business. ITE has started a new hawker course to teach and train aspiring young people, very likely armed with degrees or diplomas to become hawkers. This new profession is about the best thing that has happened in Singapore for the young and entrepreneurial Singaporeans since getting a permanent job is quite difficult as most of the jobs were taken up by the 2 million foreign talents working here, and with more coming in to become locals and Singaporeans. New Singaporean graduates are finding it tough competing with these new talents, or is it that employers for some reasons, prefer to hire foreigners instead of Singaporeans, and other than becoming taxi drivers, it is better to become hawkers.
 

The ITE course, Introduction to Managing a Hawker Business, has attracted 25 aspiring young people to learn this new trade. Among the things that they would learn other than managing a hawker stall would be things like how to source for suppliers and yes, how to formulate a business plan. This is serious business.
I am calling my grandfather to apply to be a lecturer for this course. His experience as a hawker for 50 years, from the time he arrived in this island, with out a penny, with no education, would be very useful to the new trainees that have no clues about running a hawker stall. My grandfather would be able to teach them all the tricks of the trade, including sourcing for suppliers, how to cut operating cost, how to work from 6am to 12 mid night, how to stand frying char kway teow for long hours without going to the toilet.
 

But there is a caveat. My grandfather would not know how to teach them how to write business plan. Also he would have to conduct his course in Hokien. He had never been to school. He learnt his trade the hard way or what they called, OJT. There was no one to teach him how to be a hawker then, and no hawker courses to learn how to be a hawker.
 

Hope if he got the job, the highly educated trainee aspiring hawkers would bear with him and be willing to learn from him. Hawker business is not so easy and they don’t teach them in schools or the universities. So my grandfather and his peers would be the best lecturers/trainers for such a course. They had been there and done it, no pure reading by the books.
 

This poses a new query in my mind. Who are they getting to train these aspiring hawkers, people with experience in being hawkers or text books academics? I am still puzzled by the availability of such experts in the hawker business. Would a Mat Salleh help?
 

Ok, ok, I am kidding. My grandfather must be 150 years if he is still alive. But hawker business is going to be a new profession for our young people since they no longer can become IT professionals or other professionals in Singapore. This is their best hope to earn a decent living and have a permanent job or profession. Otherwise they would likely be unemployed or underemployed.
 

The caring govt has come forward to give them a helping hand by initiating such a great course to train them to be hawkers. If not they would not have a clue how to become a hawker. Singaporeans must be taught or they would not be able to do anything on their own. This is like they said, no initiative, cannot think, cannot find out on their own, a product of Singapore’s tuition culture.
 

My grandfather did not need any tuition or training to become a successful hawker. He would faint if he knows that his class would have highly educated young people with no ideas about how to be a hawker. He would like say, seow.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...


dont play play!

in future, you may need a degree in Hawkering Science & Technology or similar courses from the universities before you can get a hawker license

so be quick.....dont wait....this is a golden opportunity......hop onto the course......be a hawker now!

yes! be a hawker now! earn lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$!

cheers.............

Anonymous said...

Rb, they should also provide a path for upgrading. That is from ITE certificate to poly for diploma and then to university for degree from bachelor degree to master and phd😀

Virgo49 said...


Our Millioniare Leaders are training our New Generation to be like what our Fore Generations who at that time have no choice but to be Hawkers, washer women,Labourers,Trishaw and Slaves Ridshaw riders for a living.

Been spat and belittled by the Chow Ang Mohs and their well to do Perkanans Boh Lean Chors who had it good due to their sucking and licking to their Masters Boots and ahem prixxxks.

Now, they are conning our Strawberry Mininnenial Spinless to be hawkers and served all the Foreign Talents or Trashes as Hawkers.

Bravo, LHL can declared to the World that the job is never done and we must take care of our citizens to serve him and the New Masters of Ah Nehs, Chow Heys etc.

Anonymous said...


Be a hawker is really not bad.

At least you are your own bosses.

Can suka suka!

Also can earn a lot of money when business is good.

Many hawkers are super rich!

Some have more than one landed houses and condos!

So really not bad to be a hawker!

Not bad! Not bad! Be a hawker now!

Anonymous said...

Singaporeans becoming hawkers? This must be joke of the year !!! Most cannot even cook an omelette. The strawberry generation of Singapore is noted for being soft and spoilt. Only wants to work in aircon environment and cannot stand any stress. At interviews for prospective jobs, first questions they ask would always be " any weekend work ? " or " got overtime or not? " or " how many days leave per year? ". Compared to FTs who are hungry and driven, Singaporeans strawberry generation will be last in the queue for selection for job. Maybe being taxi drivers and hawkers is the best place for them. Even those jobs would still be too difficult for them.

Anonymous said...

Hi 947am

Haha,,,,,,,,,,

Like that hawkers oso go to FTs.

Then our foods will become ten-tribes chup-cheng foods!

Your ideas oso not bad.

Anonymous said...

Even now many hawker stall in foodcourts and hawker centres are already owned and run by FTs from PRC. I always avoid those. Cannot be sure they even wash their vegetables and not certain what meat they use for your order. The char siew paws or the bak paws could be flavoured cardboard or other m mysterious ingredients.

More Courses Coming, Akan Datang? said...

@ Virgo49 October 12, 2018 10:02 am
"The best business still is Prostitution Business."



Uncle RB,

Mb one day also have such a course?

Think unlikely such trade will be your grandfather's forte but that of your lo(oooooo)ng time cyberspace pal MS (at least since 2005 and probably much earlier?) and not forgetting the Penang-based self-proclaimed casanova AGK?

It will make oldies day and the oldguards as a finale Mother of all Courses when eventually TCJ initiates a course on exercising through rampaging rubbish bins for exercise and make a living?

Whoever said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Whoever said...

Be F35 Aircraft Engineers And Technicians but Not Pilots

The US Navy, Air Force and Marines — as well as 11 other countries that purchased the Fucked-Up F-35s - have grounded all their Fucked-Up F-35 Fighters as part of an ongoing investigation into a F35B that crashed in Beaufort, South Carolina, two weeks ago.

A US Navy Aircraft Mishaps Board is conducting the investigation.

They are inspecting a fuel tube inside the engine of the F-35 aircraft, according to US military officials.

Please feel free to replace the letter "F" with "Fucked-Up" for all aircrafts purchased from the US.and send your people to be trained as Fucked-Up-35 aircraft engineers and technicians. You will need them for sure. It will be one of the best jobs in the world! No kidding.

Alternatively, you can also specialise in F-35 aircraft mishaps investigations, as Singapore is purchasing at least 24 of these problematic toys to let the paper generals play with (the lives and limbss of the fighter pilots in the RSAF)?

Anonymous said...

Long term future for Singaporeans:
- To be a hawker

And for this privilege
- we need million dollar talents to create the opportunity is it?

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

The F35 supposed to be stealth fighter but one was recently shot down by aged Russian S200 missiles deployed in Syria. Mind you, S200 tech is WW2, about to be phased out of service, not S300 or S400.

Virgo49 said...


It's not like we looking down on hawking.

Seriously, hawking is mainly for us who have no other choice other than other jobs that we can do in the employment market.

So, for livelihoods and survivals, we become hawkers and other honest menial jobs of which we have no choices.

But for a first World so called Nation where the populace are educated and literate than the rest, our knn leaders are exhorting them to be hawkers.

Those states or nations which have limited economic activity will have more of their people in hawking.

Sources of income and survival routes for many.

But to regress from an Economic First World So called Smart Nation to become a Hawker Centres Nation is just too much.

Don't be fooled by what's Michellin Tyres and Master's Chef ambitions and ratings.

These are con ploys by the Elites for the peasants to serve them

They need these dafts to specialise in making a dish that took several hours and gulp down in mere seconds for their enjoyment and egositc pleasures

Some, even became bored with too much easy cash and time wants to be served in Poo buckets and shits design food with gold flakes on them.

This is the beginning of the Decadence of the Capitalists World which Matilah and his gangs would relish.

I find it stupid for a chef to prepare what's nonsense six hours dish to be gulped down in mins by the so called mentally sick gourmet.

Master Chef where good food are been used for contests and waste whereas so many are going hungry in the World.

That's why now Heavens is punishing many with its Natural Disasters as they also find these imbeciles distasteful.

Virgo49 said...


Just to add: Think our Millionaire Leaders who are now VOID of any solutions for Sinking Land to have Greater Economic Activity and businesses need Singaporeans to be Hawkers for their Survivals and Livelihoods.

Brains now KONG KONG, KOSONG, KOSONG.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ RB

It is sad to see Singapore following the western demo-crazie's ideas of "Education Inflation". Nevermind that the cost of training is now astronomical...despite many cheaper alternatives found online, now many govts are adopting "education standards" for industry.

Aussie example: you can't even get a job as a cleaner unless you attend a course in cleaning. Can't cut hair unless you attend a course in hair cutting. Can't do gardening job unless you attend a course and pass with a cert. Fucking nonsense. Education Inflation.

So, in keeping with my "default" mantra: "Follow the money". Open a school lah. Teach people all sorts of shit they can actually learn on their own by just fucking DOING IT...but of course, don't tell them. Scare them into believing they need to pay you FEE$ for "proper, industry-recognised accreditation". Then call up your real estate broker and your fancy car dealer, and order your expensive new house and car. 😜

So it comes as no surprise that Singapore is introducing a hawker course. I suggest readers watch the 2006 film "Idiocracy". I suspect we are living in such a world. Life imitates art.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

Credentialism and educational inflation

Like the nice old lady says: cibai lah!

jjgg said...

Brudders brudders.. u miss the point .. ntuc just spent millions purchasing kopitiam .. so many stalls to fill.. so many aspirants to look for.. where to find ah.. the biggest catchment have always been schools of education.. so teach these poor unsuspecting young minds that hawking is a noble art form n lo.. u get your new factory workers.. aiya.. where else in the world can u institutionalise hawking ah.. uniquely Singapore 😂😂😂

Anonymous said...

As long as they do not teach " mee siam mai harm ". Maybe that should be a new Singaporean famous invention.

Anonymous said...

I want to sell fruits. Need to attend course or not?
I want to sell kalipok, need to attend course or not?
Maybe they are going to issue license only to those with hawking certificates to be hawkers.

Anonymous said...

Things are getting more weird and ridiculous in Singalore.
Foods are cook by machines, drinks are bottle and pack at factories.
Foods and beverages are sold via vending machines and they are training graduates to be hawkers to rent their stalls at run-away rentals.
Chio si lang.

Anonymous said...

PAP ministers and our SAF paper generals would be most suitable to be the best hawker lecturers. Based on LKY proven n tested theory these are multi all rounded talents. They surely will bring n nuture our hardworking n passionate n desperate youths to be the Bill Gates of hawking.
Just look at LHL how he has moved Spore to where we are today, the most expensive city in the world 5 yrs in a row.
Look at Ho Ching super track record esp on the international bank shares in 2008-2009.
Look at ex-NTUC boss with no fund management experience Lim Boon Heng now Chairman of super Temasek.
Look at the Ex-NOL CEO after selling off loss making NOL, now at SPH.
And of course our very capable ex-generals in SMRT who are so dedicated to solving and resolving the unsolvable trains breakdown in the world best train system. Japan Shinkasen is nothing, lightweight for our guys.
Hurrah we should be prepared n have lots of our CPF money invested in new hawker IPO shares.
RB you will be busy recommending these shares n we will miss you as soon you will have no time to blog.
With your investors laughing all the way to the bank.

Anonymous said...

Aging population only eat certain food.
Must also learn to cook other delicacies.consider cost n customer first.1day course.

Whoever said...

Soon a new ministry will be established. It shall be known as the Ministry of Hawking and the Minister in charge shall be called the Minister of Hawks.

Anonymous said...

Knn😰

Virgo49 said...

Right Whoever, now Goldfish Heng had asserted himself as the next PM Designated as he calls on the others NOT to think too much of theSuccession but concentrate on their Portfolios.

So, LOL,oops LHL instead of Mental,.oops Mentor Minister will be the Emeritus Mentor Minister of Hawking.

He will lectured on his Speciality Dish "Mee Siam My Hum"

"My Hum" means HUM KA CHAN.

What's next? said...

@鷌嶳垃 猩假脖邋 1.47pm
//It is sad to see Singapore following the western demo-crazie's ideas of "Education Inflation"//




Many in the past had observed, discovered and lamented that SHAMboLEEs have run out of ideas and just replaying old (broken) record in economic policies?

Ai beg to differ ...

Sickieland has LawSort to regulate rawears

Sg Mental Council to regulate Mentists

So what is the new idea in SHAMboLEEs kepala?

Cowsir of Hawkers to regulate hawkers?

All those professions which are regulated have to pay a few hundred upwards per head for yearly license renewal ...

Also sipeedee or continual education?

Bef license can renew must pay at least another few hundred upwards to attend "degrading" ... Oops ... "Upgrading" courses ...

So same same hawkers might end up like loctors or rawears need pay and pay ...

Huat ah

Heng ah

SHAMboLEE niam Heng ah

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ What's next? 鷌嶳垃--我在肛门做了你妈妈 935

Firstly, thank you for being my doting fan. You give me so much attention, I'm beginning to imagine you have a crush on me. 🤣 Please continue...I LOVE it!

Dun worry, the PAP has ideas that go beyond the ridiculous. My "intel" informs me that there are more surprises coming.

You don't worry. Your govt will take care of you.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Scary isn't it?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ RB

Depends. If he was still alive, I think our "New Young Ministers"---those fellas and gals (let's not leave out the women) would have be summarily slapped by Lee Kuan Yew...I don't know. No one will ever know.

Some people are very proud of 新加坡, they want it to be the jewel of the world. Others who cannot take it---and who can blame them, the fucking place is ridiculously expensive---they are the ones who are going to feel it negatively.

Singapore is the place where you want to be the one with money. You don't want to be the one who is LOOKING for the money just so you can get on. That's how I see it.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

The govt is COMPETING for your money. It is offering GOOD DEALS

If you've been paying attention, you would have seen the "Singapore Savings Bonds" ads at bus stops, and all over the island. To me and my "follow the money" default-setting in my materialistic-Singaporean brain, my hypothesis is that there is massive "nation building" ideas on the horizon.

So our Holy Government (praise be unto them) needs money. What better resource to tap than the many thrifty old time heartlanders still using passbook savings, but with tens or hundreds of thousands in their "old fashioned" paper passbook accounts?

Damn clever. Better write a piece lah redbean.

Virgo 49 said...

Price Waterhouse Great Accountant and GM said it's Old Fashion for AHTC to have their Accounts manually by postings in the Books.

He does not realise that at one time most Accounts are posted manually by hands including his Esteemed Price Waterhouse.

Now, he even picks a quarrel with WP being so called over payment of 2600.00 which can be cheaper in an tender by another Agent.

He just looks for loopholes to justify that WP is not doing their jobs.

Does he ever pay for something above another retailer price once in his life's time???

Just flimsy excuse.

So if the oldies are still having their savings these old fashion ways, is there any thing wrong with that?

My retired friends even have their with dawn CPF's monies all in saving accounts and not even in FDs.

OMG! said...

@ 11.59am 抹地垃是不是畜生, 做了自己的老嫲
>>>My "intel" informs me that there are more surprises coming.<<<


Whoever October 12, 2018 10:45 pm
>>>Soon a new ministry will be established. It shall be known as the Ministry of Hawking and the Minister in charge shall be called the Minister of Hawks.<<<




抹地垃,

What surprises?

Unless a course in ... ermmmm ... GayLonglogy is being mulled?

Then what?

New minionstree?

Of?

Gaylonglogy?

Then the minion call what?

How About A Course in BOTAKNOMICS? said...

@ Anonymous October 13, 2018 9:12 am
"A course on how to be a prostitute is going to attract a lot of trainees."



In cooking classes, normally they used real ingredients and actual demo how to cook various patterns, styles, taste, texture, culture, preferences, spicy level, baked, grilled, stir and stir, fry and fry, .....

Anonymous said...

Least things to prepare is the 4d pool hawkers.

And betting paper can keep long.

Anonymous said...

@RB, @All,

If your grandfather had the same education as these 25 people --- you think your grandfather would still be interested to be a hawker?!?!

People become hawker in the old days becoz .... No Choice. Just like what 99% of people who become taxi drivers or security guards today.

Actually what these 25 people secretly think is to become a popular hipster fusion hawker stall, using Instagram, facebook, wechat, whatsapp or whatever.

And then cash in on prospective investors to open restaurant or café where they can employ others to do the dirty work while they "manage" and do the creative "culinary" stuff.

Or catch the eyes of top hotels & restaurants to land a 5-figure a month salary as sous chef or chef de cuisine.

Unfortunately only 1-in-200,000 people can do it, so the chances for those 25 people are 0.0005%

b said...

Sinkies can become hawkers and poison his food when he coming to town to win votes.