Jollibean employees in limbo after outlet closures, wage & CPF delayed

As soon as an iconic F&B model with greater than 30 shops islandwide, Singapore soy milk retailer Jollibean has quietly shut a number of shops prior to now 12 months, allegedly with out giving staff prior discover or rationalization, CNA reported.

Jollibean’s web site lists simply eight remaining shops in Singapore; nevertheless, in response to the information report, three of those have since closed as of July 8, 2025.

Storefronts at Ng Teng Fong Common Hospital and Raffles Place MRT Station have been “boarded up,” whereas the Lavender MRT Station outlet had a discover on the door stating that the premises had been “repossessed” by SMRT Trains from June 30 this 12 months.

A number of staff who spoke to CNA additionally claimed that they’ve been owed months of salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. Former employees have been allegedly left in a limbo, after they arrived at work solely to search out out that their outlet had been closed with out prior discover.

What present & former employees needed to say

A former worker who labored on the Pioneer MRT station outlet, which closed on December 27, 2024, advised the publication that all 5 employees members misplaced their jobs that very same day when the outlet was repossessed by SMRT Trains.

The 68-year-old had labored on the outlet for the previous 5 to 6 years on a part-time foundation, and recalled being advised to shut the store instantly upon arriving for work.

“The second I stepped via the door, my chief mentioned ‘in the present day you don’t must work, it’s essential shut store’,” she mentioned in Mandarin in a cellphone interview with CNA. “She didn’t say why… I referred to as my co-workers to inform them that the shop is closing and to return down and see it for the final time.”

She added that Jollibean nonetheless owed her wage for the final month of labor, which quantities to greater than S$1,000, together with three months of unpaid CPF.

The ex-employee, together with different affected employees members, visited Jollibean’s headquarters in Pasir Panjang over their owed salaries someday in January or February, and have been advised that the cash can be credited by the subsequent month and would obtain a letter of assure that they’d be paid. 

Nevertheless, she shared that there was no information since then. When requested if she had thought of lodging a report with the authorities, the unnamed employees mentioned she was unwilling to undergo the difficulty.

“At first, we labored so laborious and didn’t receives a commission, so we have been very emotional. Now I feel, simply neglect it,” she mentioned. “I’ll simply deal with it as charity.”

One other part-timer, a 74-year-old lady who labored on the similar outlet for over a decade, has approached the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Administration (TADM) for assist, and is the one one from the staff to take action. 

Whereas she was initially ready to let the matter go, her son suggested in any other case. “He mentioned that it’s my hard-earned cash, even when it’s simply S$1,000, why don’t you get it again?”

Upon approaching TADM together with her son in April, the organisation labored out a scheme for Jollibean to pay the wage in month-to-month instalments. Nevertheless, she claimed to have “not obtained a cent” since her go to.

“The authorities have intervened, however the firm remains to be dragging its ft; it’s hopeless. And it’s cash earned from laborious work, not simply cash you get from sitting round,” she mentioned.

Nevertheless, a 40-year-old worker working at a special outlet in central Singapore, who had been employed by Jollibean for round three years, shared that her wages nonetheless got here in recurrently, however after a delay of over a month. She added that she was “fantastic” with the present scenario.

New proprietor to step in

Addressing the shop closures, Shahrul Nazrin Mohd Dahlan, the director of Jollibean Meals, mentioned they have been a part of a broader downsizing train.

He added that the corporate will quickly have a brand new proprietor and is working carefully with the authorities to resolve wage points, although he didn’t reveal the rationale for not paying employees on time.

“We’re resolving it with MOM [and] we’re settling it by the top of this week. Every part goes to be resolved quickly, there’s a brand new capital injection with a brand new shareholder, so every thing might be resolved financially,” he mentioned.

Based on Shahrul, the events are at present within the midst of finishing the paperwork and are anticipated to settle funds by the top of this month. He additionally talked about that he intends to resign as soon as the brand new proprietor takes over—reportedly someday in July—although he declined to reveal their id.

“The brand new homeowners taking up… they’ve been within the F&B enterprise for greater than 30 years, in order that they know what they’re doing. They’re taking up after which they [are] increasing.” 

Regardless of the dearth of readability and ongoing cost delays, some Jollibean staff advised CNA that they’re persevering with to work, holding out hope that their wages might be paid as soon as the brand new “boss” steps in.

In response to media queries from the publication, the Meals, Drinks and Allied Staff Union (FDAWU), a commerce union affiliated to the Nationwide Trades Union Congress (NTUC), mentioned that Jollibean is a non-unionised firm. 

“Affected employees can strategy the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Administration to make an appointment for advisory companies on employment disputes, an FDAWU spokesperson mentioned in an announcement issued to CNA on Wednesday (Jul 9).

Vulcan Publish has reached out to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for additional remark. 

Featured Picture Credit score: DD through Google Maps/ Singapore Atrium Sale through Fb