Catch a rat, earn cash: Clementi hawker centre offers rewards to tackle rodent problem
Stall owners at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre have introduced a cash reward scheme to address a persistent rat problem. Now in its third year, the initiative encourages hawkers to catch rats and uphold cleanliness at the hawker centre.
- Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre stall owners introduced cash rewards for catching rats to improve cleanliness.
- The initiative, now in its third year, offers up to S$50 per catch.
- The programme has reduced rat sightings and strengthened cooperation among hawkers.
SINGAPORE: Stall owners at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre have come up with a creative solution to tackle a persistent rat problem — offering cash rewards for every rat caught.
Under the initiative, stall owners receive monetary rewards based on the size of the rodents, with previous bounties reaching as high as S$100 for the largest catches.
The scheme aims to foster cooperation among stall owners to improve cleanliness and maintain food hygiene at the hawker centre.
Shin Min Daily News reporters visited the market on 31 October following a tip-off from a reader about rat sightings at the hawker centre.
Several stall owners confirmed that rats were indeed present, often emerging at night before or after business hours and seen scurrying along the overhead beams.
One vendor told Shin Min that rat droppings were sometimes found on the beams, which made cleaning more time-consuming.
To ensure hygiene, stall owners usually cover their food or store them in refrigerators.
Rat-Catching Reward Mechanism
In response to the issue, the Clementi Town Shop-Owners’ Association implemented a rat-catching reward programme to encourage hawkers to take an active role in pest control.
The association’s honorary president, Xu Chong Yu (transliteration), told Shin Min that the initiative — now in its third year — was intended to promote teamwork among stallholders rather than serve purely as a cash incentive.
Photos provided by the association showed vendors being rewarded for their catches.
Some received small sums for baskets of baby rats, while others previously earned up to S$100 for catching a large rat weighing around one kilogram.
However, the rewards were slightly adjusted, with the maximum payout for catching larger rats now capped at S$50.
Members of the public who assist in catching rats at the hawker centre are also eligible for rewards.
Fewer Rats Spotted After Initiative
Xu said the initiative has yielded positive results, with participation remaining strong and a noticeable drop in rat sightings.
Records from the association showed that 15 rats were caught in July, earning a total of S$305 in rewards.
In August and October, 27 and 21 rats were captured respectively, with payouts amounting to S$520 and S$240.
“There are fewer and fewer rats now,” Xu told Shin Min. “Everyone has been working together to create a cleaner dining environment.”
He added that both the authorities and stall owners have been proactive in maintaining hygiene, testing several control methods such as traps and cages, which have proven effective so far.
Other stall owners interviewed also said the rat situation has significantly improved.
