This is a full version of NEA-NParks’s reply issued to the media agency; published in Lianhe Zaobao, 30 Mar 2023.
Everyone can do their part to keep our public dining spaces clean and hygienic
We refer to the letters by He Zhirong and Shen Wenfeng, “Was the tray return measure successful?” (20 March) and “Hiring more cleaners should be considered” (20 March) respectively.
With the introduction of the Clean Tables Campaign, which included the mandatory return of used crockery, cutlery and trays by patrons, the cleaning workflow at hawker centres has been revised. Previously, one team of cleaners will rove the hawker centre performing multiple tasks, such as clearing used crockery, cutlery and trays from tables, wiping the tables and clearing the return racks. Now, the cleaners are placed into one of two teams - one team wipes the tables, while the other team sorts and clears returned crockery, cutlery and trays at return racks. The number of cleaners deployed at each hawker centre also depends on factors such as size and layout, number of stalls in operation, and general crowd level. While the revised cleaning workflow has generally worked well, there are occasions, especially during peak dining periods whereby cleaners, many of whom are elderly, may take more time to perform their tasks.
Manpower constraints and an ageing workforce continue to pose a challenge, as the demand for cleaning services is increasingly rising. The hard work, long hours, and stigma attached to cleaning jobs are also push factors. While NEA will continue to work with the Hawkers’ Associations and their appointed contractors to ensure adequate cleaning at hawker centres, we seek the public’s understanding and patience towards those who join the cleaning industry as cleaners.
Andrew Low
Group Director, Hawker Centre Group
National Environment Agency