This means that local councils who have an organised market cannot authorise hawkers simply because another seller transferred his stall to another name or if a hawker bought it from someone else.

Local councils cannot allow such moves, the DOI said. This is because hawkers on the waiting list have the right to fill up spaces that are vacated. These hawkers also have the right to oppose the granting of a space to another seller who is not authorised.

The DOI issued this statement in the light of reports reaching the Small Enterprises and Self-Employed Directorate that hawkers at Ta’ Qali were selling their spaces. This kind of sale cannot be authorised.

The Parliamentary Secretariat said that hawkers should not be deceived into buying space as the Attard local council, which is responsible for the Ta’ Qali market cannot authorise such a transaction.