Mr Jack Sim correctly pointed out that various stakeholders from
across society are represented in the Public Hygiene Council (PHC) (Cleanliness of hawker centre toilets needs to be improved,
Jan 2). They work with us to create a culture where everyone disposes
of trash correctly and keeps public eating places and toilets clean.
In July last year, PHC announced our partnership with leading coffee
shop chains - such as Broadway, Chang Cheng, Foodfare, GHK, Kimly, Kim
San Leng, Kopitiam and S11 - to work towards achieving the SG Clean
quality mark certification by ensuring higher cleanliness and hygiene
standards for their premises and toilets.
The Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association, which
represents more than 400 coffee shop owners, is another significant
partner in this effort.
Coffee shop operators have also responded well to the Toilet
Improvement Programme launched last October by the National Environment
Agency for coffee shops and hawker centres. Under this programme, coffee
shop owners are given grants to carry out improvement works to their
toilets. Their toilet cleaners are also given training free.
Mr Sim asked why the hygiene standard of toilets in hawker centres
and coffee shops is below that of toilets in shopping centres when the
users are the same. We need to recognise that user behaviour varies on
different premises. How a user behaves depends on the setting and
surroundings of premises. Even so, if users play their part and keep the
premises clean, it will lead to other users following suit.
Inculcating good habits takes time. It also takes everyone - not just
the owners and operators of these public facilities but also those who
use them - being responsible and doing their part to raise the standard
of hygiene in our public toilets in Singapore.
Edward D'Silva
Chairman
Public Hygiene Council
credit: ST