Twelve cupcakes opened by local djs allegedly exploits foreign workers

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:



http://therealsingapore.com/content/...oreign-workers

Dear The Real Singapore,

I believe many Singaporeans would be aware of this brand call "12 Cupcakes" in Singapore. Spanning over Asia like Malaysia, Taiwan and now, setting up in Hong Kong (based on Daniel Ong's Twitter), the "local brand" cakery is making its presence felt with at least 12 outlets around the island. Business is brisk and there is always a shortage of working staff (based on their advertisement in hiring workers). However, recently, I visited a few of their outlets in town and spoken with some staff and realized that many of them are being exploited.

You see, I was buying my usual dozens at this outlet in the middle of Town and spoken with the friendly Outlet Supervisor (who was a Pinoy). I was curious as to why I keep seeing the same person serving me almost everytime I visit the store. It was only then that I realise that the working hours for a regular staff is as such:

Full Time Foreigner: 12 hours a day, 6 days a week with 1 day off

Full Time Local: 8 hours a day, 5.5 days a week with 1.5 days off

Which means these Foreign workers are only earning $3 an hour!

And a further chat reveals that some of the baking staff, whom are foreigner are subjected to working hours of the same and having to shuttle between 2 outlets at the same day. Their pay? Below a $1000.00 (from what a certain PRC baker told me).

Just to confirm that the above was correct, I then went to another outlet in the East and spoken with another Outlet Supervisor and the Kitchen team. I was shocked when the Pinoy Supervisor dragged me to a corner and started complaining to me about the working conditions. I was even more shocked that the workers accepted such a lowly pay with lengthy hours. While a shop generally generates $1k - $3k in sales daily, based on what this supervisor had said, the Kitchen staff who are foreigner are earning around $850.00.

According to MOM ruling, it is stated that the maximum working hours is 44 hours. Anything more than that would warrant overtime pay. Now, this same supervisor told me that there was no such thing as overtime pay unless it is approved by management, and it is only when you are required to work during their break days.

I then asked if the staff know their break days at the beginning of the month (as stipulated by MOM guidelines) and was told that they only know their break days on a "Saturday" before the week proper.

This is worrying. While Singaporeans are fighting against jobs that are given to Foreigners, will anyone actually want to work under such conditions? 6 days a week and 12 hours each day for a meagre pay of around $1,500 per month?

I hope that Singaporeans do the right thing and vote for equal rights with your dollars.

The company is expanding, at the expense of the workers?

PS: This article is written at the request of the Foreign Worker working in 12 Cupcakes after an intensive interview with the foreign staff.



Vettel

TRS contributor



Editor's Note: This article has been forwarded to TAFEP and Twelve Cupcakes for clarifications. No response as of yet. Anyway, we doubt they are doing anything illegal. Unlike other Developed Nations, Singapore does not have any functional worker's union (NTUC is not a Worker's Union) or minimum wage laws to protect the rights of workers.


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