WP MP Jamus Lim: We need to take it seriously when Singapore's food and beverage industry is under threat
SINGAPORE: In a recent speech in Parliament, Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim (Sengkang) underlined how important the food and beverage industry is to Singapore and called for the business environment to be made easier for them to survive. Saying that it’s not enough to tell eateries to "work smarter,” he argued that there is more room for flexibility on manpower, lowering rental costs, protecting…
Singaporean Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim highlighted the significance of the food and beverage (F&B) industry to the nation during a recent parliamentary address. Lim called for simplifying the business environment to help F&B establishments thrive, rather than merely urging establishments to work more efficiently. He proposed various avenues to improve the sector, including providing more flexibility for employees, reducing rental expenses, protecting tenants, supporting local food enterprises, and enhancing productivity.
On October 21, Lim shared a video of his Oct 6 speech, stating, "F&B also showcases both sides of Singapore’s SME challenge. Existing operators face business costs, while prospective entrepreneurs find it hard to enter the formal market due to the difficulty of transitioning from home-based operations to commercial ventures without substantial financial resources."
Lim's statement underscored the challenges faced by Singaporeans who cherish their culinary heritage, with the city-state's hawker culture being a cherished part of its intangible legacy.
In a caption accompanying the video, Lim emphasized the importance of the F&B industry to Singapore's identity, noting that food is a core aspect of the nation's pride. He stressed that threats to the industry, such as escalating rent, labor, and ingredient costs, should not be taken lightly. Many netizens supported Lim's viewpoint, asserting the need to safeguard and encourage the growth of the F&B sector, which provides convenience and a sense of pride to the public.
Netizens proposed various solutions to support the F&B industry, including addressing changing consumer habits, reducing digital platform fees, encouraging landlords to back unique local concepts, and assisting homegrown food stalls in digitizing operations without imposing excessive costs on consumers. Lim's comprehensive approach to fostering an environment where Singapore's SMEs, particularly the F&B sector, can flourish was widely acknowledged and supported by the public.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.