Eligibility of merchants in privately-owned shophouse Merchants for CDC Vouchers Scheme

85. Mr Shawn Loh: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) how many additional merchants will be included in the Community Development Council (CDC) Voucher Scheme if all merchants in privately-owned shophouses were eligible; (b) whether these merchants can be included if residents appeal to use CDC vouchers at these shops; and (c) what are the factors considered by CDC for such appeals.

1. Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Mr Speaker, I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People’s Association. The CDC Vouchers Scheme was first introduced in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with two key objectives – (i) to help Singaporean households cope with the cost of living; and (ii) to support hawkers and heartland merchants.

2. In line with the policy intent, our aim is to onboard hawkers and merchants in HDB heartlands, such as those in the NEA-managed centres and HDB heartlands, including shops which offer daily goods or services.

3. However, there are instances where few or no heartland merchants are found within or near residential areas. In such locations, we have onboarded, on a case-by-case basis, small businesses that provide goods and services needed by residents.

4. To date, we have onboarded over 23,000 hawkers and heartland merchants on the CDC Voucher scheme. The CDCs will continue to work closely with key partners, including the Federation of Merchants' Association, Singapore (FMAS), Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore (HECS), and various merchant and hawker associations, to onboard eligible merchants in the heartlands.