Lucky Plaza mall retailers are complaining about an apparent illegal flea market on a nearby street.
While authorities have punished some illegal hawkers, retailers told the Straits Times that the problem persists and is affecting their business.
In Orchard Road, the mall is popular with Filipino domestic workers on Sundays, with many having picnics nearby. But since July last year, retailers have noticed the itinerant sellers, mainly women with bags of clothes and shoes.
Retailers, particularly those selling dried foods, cosmetics, fashion items and phones, say their sales revenue has dropped by 20 to 50 per cent over the past four to six months.
“The illegal hawkers are getting bolder – they bring bags of new shoes and T-shirts to sell, and even manicure and haircutting services are provided,” says KD Chan, who runs a shop in the mall selling Filipino products including toiletries and canned food.
Along with about 15 other retailers, he plans a petition for more enforcement action against the hawkers.
Rental costs on Lucky Plaza’s ground floor can be as much as much as S$40,000 (US$29,000) a month.
Meanwhile, the National Environment Agency says it has received 10 reports of unregulated street-hawking activity outside Lucky Plaza since January.
“Checks were carried out and enforcement actions taken against five foreigners,” says a spokesman.
People caught hawking illegally may have their goods seized and be fined from $300 to $500. The fourth and subsequent offences will involve prosecution in court.
