Introduction

After receiving a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis in February, hawker Yan Mengjing, a 48-year-old single mother, was faced with the tough decision to close her seven food stalls temporarily as she concentrated on her recovery. The National Environment Agency (NEA) stepped in to help her during this challenging period, granting her more than $10,000 in rental waivers.

Background

Originally from Myanmar, Yan became a Singapore citizen in 2003. She started her entrepreneurial journey over a decade ago to support her daughter after her divorce. Beginning with a modest yong tau foo stall, she expanded her business to include seafood in 2019, progressively taking on additional stalls as she noticed multiple vacancies.

Health Challenges

However, Yan's life took a drastic turn when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. The treatments—comprising several surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy—were both physically and emotionally taxing, causing her to limit her time at the stalls. "Due to my weakened immune system, the doctor strongly advised me to avoid crowds, which made it impossible to manage my stalls as I had before," she shared.

Application for Waiver

In February, she closed her cooked food stall while an assistant managed the market stalls. By July, Yan recognized that she needed to prioritize her health and decided to apply to the NEA for a rental waiver as she suspended business operations.

Granting of Waivers

A sense of anxiety crept in as she awaited the outcome of her application. It was a challenging wait—over two months—during which her rent was continuously deducted from her bank account. "I’m truly grateful for NEA’s support that alleviated some pressure," Yan expressed. "While I understand there are regulations in place, I hope future applicants can have their requests expedited based on their unique situations."

Outcome

Ultimately, NEA granted her waivers: 11 months for her cooked food stall and six months for her market stalls after receiving a complete documentation package in mid-August. The agency also allowed her assistant to cover while she was undergoing treatment, showing compassion for Yan's difficult circumstances.

Reopening and Future

By November, she opened her seafood stall at Toa Payoh Palm Spring Market, deciding to give up her cooked food stall to focus on her recovery. In a statement, NEA underscored their commitment to facilitating support for hawkers while ensuring that food stalls are available to meet consumers' needs.

Conclusion

This story not only highlights the plight of a hardworking entrepreneur but also serves as a reminder of the support systems in place for those battling health challenges. With compassion from organizations like NEA, Yan can now navigate her journey to recovery while gradually rebuilding her business. Yan hopes that her experience can spur more timely aid for hawkers facing similar adversities.