over 4 years ago

*Twelve Cupcakes co-founder Jaime Teo fined for underpaying foreign workers *

Homegrown bakery chain ทริคที่ควรรู้ในการเล่นเกม สล็อตออนไลน์ ให้ชนะ Twelve Cupcakes' co-founder Jaime Teo was fined S$65,000 on Tuesday (Mar 9) for underpaying foreign workers when she helmed the company with her then-husband Daniel Ong.

Teo, a local celebrity and former Miss Universe Singapore, allowed Twelve Cupcakes to underpay seven foreign employees who worked at the bakery over three years almost S$100,000. She was a director of the firm at the time.

District Judge Adam Nakhoda said the offences were difficult to detect and persisted for a period of time.

"The fact that the accused herself was unable to detect the offences is not in itself mitigating," he said. "She ought to have paid more attention to the HR (human resources) aspect of the business."

He said the workers were on an unequal bargaining position with the company, as they wanted to work in Singapore and might be agreeable to accepting lower salaries, but stressed that "it is incumbent on companies that they are paid minimum salaries".

"The fact that employees do not complain that they are being paid less does not absolve the companies," he added.

He said that Teo had not made restitution, in contrast to Twelve Cupcakes as a corporate offender, which made full restitution to underpaid employees under its new owners.

Earlier this month, Teo pleaded guilty to 10 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

The court heard that Teo was one of the main decision makers in the company, controlling the company's expenses and in charge of the employees' salaries, as she and Ong were signatories to the company's financial accounts.

Teo failed to prevent the company from underpaying the workers, and did not take any steps to ensure that they received their fixed monthly salaries, the court heard.