Associations Discuss Solutions to Alleviate Operational Challenges
Newspaper vendors in Singapore are facing increasing challenges due to rising costs and declining print subscriptions. Representatives from the Singapore News Vendors’ Association (SNVA) and Singapore Newspaper Distributors Association (SNDA) gathered on October 30 to address these concerns. The vendors, who are responsible for delivering SPH Media’s newspapers, have been struggling with stagnant wages, competition from delivery platforms like Grab and foodpanda, and higher operating expenses.
A significant issue highlighted by the vendors is that delivery fees have only been adjusted twice since 1994, with the last adjustment occurring in 2013. With rising costs—such as fuel prices, labor wages, and certification fees—the vendors are finding it increasingly difficult to cover their operational costs and maintain profitability. Some vendors have seen delivery volumes decrease, leading them to cover more ground to maintain the same number of deliveries, which increases labor requirements.
Jaya Kumar, president of SNVA, and Eric Tan, president of SNDA, proposed a potential increase in newspaper delivery fees to offset some of the financial pressures. They plan to approach SPH Media to discuss this adjustment after consulting with their members.
In response, SPH Media acknowledged the challenges faced by vendors and noted that they have been offering a subsidy of S$3 per month per delivery to help vendors cope with rising costs since October 2022. While the media company stated that the delivery fees are based on economic factors, they expressed willingness to engage with vendors to address their concerns.
The newspaper associations hope that fee adjustments will be made in 2024 to support vendors in managing the increasing pressures on their businesses.
