Jollibean Employees Allege Unpaid Wages, CPF Shortfalls

Several employees of Jollibean are alleging financial distress after abrupt outlet closures and delayed payments. Some workers claim they are owed wages and employer contributions to Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF).

Sudden Closures, Lost Jobs

At the Pioneer MRT Station Jollibean, which shuttered December 27, employees were reportedly given no advance notice. One staff member said that SMRT Trains took back the location, leaving five without jobs. Similarly, the Lavender MRT outlet was repossessed June 30, as indicated by a notice on the door.

One 68-year-old part-time employee at the Pioneer MRT outlet recounted being told to immediately pack up upon arriving for her shift. “The moment I stepped through the door, my leader said ‘today you don’t need to work, you need to close shop’,” she stated, adding that she was not given a reason.

Unpaid Dues and Broken Promises

The 68-year-old woman claims Jollibean owes her over S$1,000 for her final month of work, in addition to three months of unpaid CPF contributions. After visiting Jollibean’s headquarters in Pasir Panjang in January or February, affected staff were supposedly told they would receive their money the following month, along with a letter of guarantee.

“So we waited and waited, until now, July, there is no news,” she lamented. Initially hesitant to involve authorities, she expressed resignation: “At first, we worked so hard and did not get paid so we were very emotional. Now I think, just forget it…I will just treat it as charity.”

Seeking Help, Facing Delays

Another part-timer, a 74-year-old woman who worked at the same store for over ten years, sought assistance from the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) with her son’s encouragement. TADM arranged a payment plan with Jollibean involving monthly installments, but the 74-year-old reports that “We went to the authorities in April, but now it is July and we have not received a cent.”

Impact on Workers

A 49-year-old counter staff member stated that she is still awaiting salaries for May and June. “We come from overseas to make a living…we just hope to be paid on time,” she said, emphasizing the urgency due to upcoming rent and basic necessities expenses. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, employers must pay salaries within seven days of the end of the salary period (MOM, 2023).

Ongoing Issues

One Jollibean employee who wanted to be known only as Mars, 40, at a different outlet in central Singapore said that while her wages still came in regularly, it was after more than a month’s delay.

A co-worker at the same outlet revealed the company allegedly stopped CPF contributions from last November, except for March. Despite these issues, some employees are choosing to stay, hoping for imminent payment and a change in ownership.