Sweet Trouble: Twelve Cupcakes Gets Caught in a Salary Web
From Sprinkles to Sugar‑Coated Lawsuits
With more than 30 storefronts around Singapore, Twelve Cupcakes has become the go-to spot for dozens of pastry lovers. But on December 10, the beloved bakery danced a different kind of dance—one where the beat was a guilty plea to 15 charges of underpaying employees under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Who Got Short‑changed?
- Seven foreigners holding S‑Passes turned up in the spice‑laden office.
- Six of them, stationed in customer‑service and sales roles, walked home with only $1,400 – $2,050 a month, instead of the promised $2,200 – $2,600. This happened between December 2016 and September 2018.
- One pastry chef, serious in the kitchen, had his wages skimped on from January 2017 all the way through September 2018.
From Drowning to “Paying the Correct Amount”
At first, the bakery slid those reduced salaries straight into the workers’ bank accounts. Then, in May 2018, they finally pushed the right amount via bank transfer—only to demand that employees give back cash a portion of the earnings. A scoundrel’s game of “give me money back”!
Harder Than Just the Frauds
The Ministry of Manpower’s prosecutor, Maximilian Chew, urged the court to hand out a fine of $127,000. He listed three sneaky aggravators:
- The bakery actively covered up the misdeeds.
- They would have kept on mispaying if uncatch‑ed.
- The motive was clearly profit‑driven.
What the Lawyer Claims
Twelve Cupcakes’ lawyer, S. Balamurugan, told the judge that this wage‑cutting had been inherited from previous owners, and the Dhunseri Group just followed the same loop. He added, “The foreign employees were in the clear on the original wage; we should have stopped it when we snapped the business.”
Settling the Score
Since investigations kicked off in 2018, the company has paid out $114,150 in overdue salaries to the affected staff.
What Happens Next?
Sentencing rolls around January 7, 2026, where District Judge Adam Nakhoda will also consider 14 additional similar charges. Up to $10,000 could be fined per offense.
A Quick Life‑Story
- Founded in 2011 by radio DJ Daniel Ong & former supermodel Jaime Teo.
- Acquired by the Kolkata‑based Dhunseri Group in 2016 for $2.5 million.
So there you have it: a sweet shop that turned sugar into a sticky legal mess. Time to see how the court serves justice — hopefully in a more equitable flavor this time around.
