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By Ian Tan Hanhonn
The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) announced on 16 February 2021 that it plans to unionise local bakery brand Twelve Cupcakes.
FDAWU General Secretary Tan Hock Soon issued a statement on the union’s Facebook page saying he believes more can be done to support both the employees and management moving forward.
The union has been engaging Twelve Cupcakes’ employees and management since late 2020.
Mr Tan said that FDAWU wants to represent and speak up for Twelve Cupcakes employees, and also work with its management to educate them on the fair employment legislation and practices, as well as their responsibilities and care towards employee welfare.
He added: “FDAWU endeavours to offer protection for the employees and partnership with the management to recover from this episode. We encourage employees who need workplace assistance to approach the union too.
“The union understands that many companies in the hospitality and food services sectors have been hard hit by the impact of COVID-19. Thus, the union remains committed to engaging both the management and workers to uplift their businesses and workforce, while guiding them out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The move comes after former 12 Cupcakes co-owner, Jaime Teo, pleaded guilty on 4 February 2021 to underpaying seven foreign employees a total of almost $100,000 between September 2013 and November 2016. The local celebrity was helming the company with her then-husband, Daniel Ong.
Twelve Cupcakes was bought over by Dhunseri Group in December 2016.