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By Swan Kaur, Wake Up Singapore
“I solely thank god I gave start to my sixth youngster naturally and never by c-section in order that i can stroll and go (look) for cash to feed my kids…What (have) you accomplished to all of us?…You might have simply dragged us on and on with lies, caring solely about yourselves.” – An worker at Stickies who has not been paid since December 2023
A Sticky Scenario
Wake Up Singapore understands that Stickies, a preferred native bar identified for its low cost drinks and ‘Beer O Clock’, has not paid salaries on time to a minimum of 65 staff up to now few months.
In line with paperwork from ACRA, Mr Then Wen Jun Norman (“Norman”) and Mr Chong Sing Yong (“Sino”) are the administrators of Stickies Bar Pte Ltd (UEN No. 201703179Z).
Unpaid Salaries, Reneged Guarantees
Not less than 40 staff have filed disputes with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Administration (TADM) relating to their unpaid salaries. Employees from Stickies informed Wake Up Singapore that Stickies has repeatedly didn’t pay staff correctly and on time.
We perceive that Stickies may be dealing with sanctions for failing to pay CPF for his or her staff on time.
Primarily based on paperwork obtained by Wake Up Singapore, a minimum of 18 staff skilled delayed funds in November 2023. Some shortfalls exceeded SGD 1000.
For the month of December 2023, greater than 60 staff weren’t paid on time, or paid in any respect.
An worker contacted TADM in November 2023 after not receiving his wage. He then entered right into a settlement settlement with Sino. The affected worker stated that Sino has since reneged on the phrases of the settlement settlement.
Wake Up Singapore understands that Stickies has additionally been hiring unlawful employees since January 2023. These are largely scholar go holders.
The unlawful employees, not like most different staff, have been truly paid their salaries in December.
“It’s been actually robust, particularly after I’m the only breadwinner with 6 youngsters.” – an unpaid worker at Stickies
It’s unlikely that Stickies, which has roughly 5 official staff, is ready to function two shops with out enlisting exterior employees.
Who’re Stickies Bar?
Stickies Bar Pte Ltd is a neighborhood F&B institution based in 2017 with roughly 51-200 staff, in keeping with their LinkedIn profile.
The corporate operates 4 shops situated at Aljunied, Keng Cheow, Dhoby Ghaut, and Sundown Lane. Solely the shops at Sundown Lane and Dhoby Ghuat stay open on the time of writing.
What Occurred?
CEO Mr. Norman Then assured Stickies staff that they’d obtain their December 2023 salaries by January 8, 2024.
Nevertheless, once they weren’t paid on the eighth, Mr. Norman promised to pay them on the fifteenth.
Mr. Norman additionally requested his staff to “work and herald gross sales” to allow the corporate to pay them:
“We perceive the way you all really feel, but when we don’t work and herald gross sales, then we are able to’t pay everybody. So please assist us allow you to.”
Whereas his staff voiced their struggles and frustration, Mr. Norman left Singapore for a trip to Bali on the twelfth of January. This was not unnoticed by staff.
When confronted, he claimed that the journey was funded by his spouse.
Interim Judicial Administration?
As a substitute of paying their salaries on Monday, the fifteenth of January, Mr. Norman introduced that the corporate would endure Interim Judicial Administration (IJM), a kind of debt restructuring.
Staff react to Stickies’ IJM
Upon listening to the information of the IJM, an worker identified that Mr. Norman and Mr. Chong had all the month of December and half of January to tell their staff.
One other worker expressed disappointment:
“…The choice to speak this data belatedly displays a whole lack of foresight and accountability…I believe you’ve gotten repeatedly failed to grasp the implications on our livelihoods, which we’ve got all tolerated up to now few months and even years.”
As staff voiced their dismay and indignation, Mr. Norman informed his staff:
“Guys. The federal government goes to pay y’all. You’re going to get paid.”
Mr. Norman additionally accused an worker of harassment once they requested fee for what the corporate owed them.
“Your resolution to get your a refund is to harass me?”
“Or What?”
“You threatening me, is it?”
Eradicating Staff from Chat Teams
On a number of events, Mr. Norman eliminated staff from the worker group chat once they questioned him about their salaries.
When an worker approached Mr. Norman for her wage, he steered that she work as a part-timer with Stickies.
He proposed paying her by commissions on drinks bought as an alternative of paying her wage within the meantime.
Upon receiving a screenshot within the group chat the place an worker claimed Mr. Norman is just paying these nonetheless working, Mr. Norman replied:
“Once more. We solely dispersed the funds as suggested by the attorneys.”
One other worker requested:
“So that you’ve paid the employees who’re presently working?”
Mr. Norman replied:
“I’m not at liberty to debate this.”
Hiring and Paying Unlawful Employees
In line with movies and documentation sighted by Wake Up Singapore, Stickies has been hiring unlawful employees since 2023.
In line with the paperwork, the corporate reportedly paid the employees by the checking account of an Outlet Supervisor (“OM”).
From January to December 2023, Stickies allegedly transferred a minimum of $10,000 every month from its firm account to the OM’s checking account to pay the unlawful employees.
Reportedly, a sum of SGD 20,000 was transferred out of Stickies to the account of an operational employees in January 2024. An worker suspects that this sum used to pay the unlawful employees.
15 Staff have been laid off
Wake Up Singapore understands that Stickies has a common mixed fortnightly income of SGD 120,000 from a number of shops. Nevertheless, Stickies’ administrators declare the corporate is unable to pay their staff.
In the meantime, Norman and Sino proceed to make use of rented automobiles paid for by Stickies.
“Who has been taking the day by day gross sales? The place has the income been going?” – An unpaid worker at Stickies
Previously couple of months, the corporate reportedly laid off 15 staff.
They have been knowledgeable their worker contracts have been terminated with speedy impact. Wake Up Singapore has had sight of 1 such termination discover.
In line with MOM: “If an employer terminates an employment contract with no plan to fill the emptiness quickly, the worker is taken into account to have been retrenched.”
In line with our sources, a minimum of three staff who could have been eligible for retrenchment advantages have been reportedly pressured to resign.
4 staff have been allegedly unfairly terminated, as Stickies reportedly didn’t honor the one-month discover interval specified of their contracts.
Corporations with a minimum of 10 staff should notify MOM of any retrenchment train.
Stickies didn’t reply to Wake Up Singapore’s request for touch upon 19 January 2024.
Wake Up Singapore hopes that the affected staff get a simply consequence and obtain what they’re owed.
This text was first printed on Wake Up Singapore
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