Monitoring of Home-based Businesses to Ensure Fair Operations

44 Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether businesses operated from residential addresses, including those under the Home-Based Business scheme, are subject to monitoring by the Government; (b) whether the Ministry ensures that such home-based businesses operate fairly and are not accorded an unfair advantage over traditional brick-and-mortar retailers which are subject to stricter licensing and regulatory requirements; and (c) if so, how.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Member may refer to the Ministry of National Development's (MND's) written reply to the question asked by Mr Yip Hon Weng on 24 September 2025 regarding the regulations of the Home-Based Business Scheme. [Please refer to ​"Defining Criteria and Management Regulations for Home-based Businesses", Official Report, 24 September 2025, Vol 96, Issue 4, Written Answers to Questions section.]

Regulations for home-based businesses and brick-and-mortar retailers are proportionate to the scale and externalities of the activities involved. Unlike brick-and-mortar retailers, home-based businesses are required to keep their activities small-scale and are not permitted to put up signages or hire persons outside the household.