The incident with cupcake is interesting. An informer blew the whistle and the fiasco blew. Since then pinoy staff cried (actually crying) to TRS and gave their version. Then another "rachel" came up with their story, which turn up not to be "rachel" but someone else as claimed by the Twelve Cupcakes CEO.
The CEO of the cupcake joint with his arrogance even believed all the articles are written by a single person (a former ex worker working his company). However, this arrogant CEO Daniel Ong has a few incidences of fights with others. One with a neighbour and another with SPH. Both reflecting that this person who preaches love and care in his long winded rants is devoid of a soul. Giving his version of gross salary without the calculation formula that validates the gross salary.
This note is not to reveal verified truths that I have found, and not published. But to share the thoughts surrounding this incident.
NO REAL LAWS TO PROTECT
I am disappointed, that Singaporeans are apathetic to the abuses found in Singapore. This is not an innocent place to hire workers and pay them obscenely low wages and work long hours in bad conditions. Everything is controlled from the pee to break, where even the off days is disturbed. The control is the gripe on work visa, upon not fulfilling any wishes and demands, canceling the work visa would destroy the worker's need of a salary to pay off their debts to come to work.
We do not have labour laws that sufficiently protect workers from abuse. We do not have unions that represent workers. We do not have minimum wage laws that give workers a sustainable wage for their lives. We do not have anti-discrimination laws that protect against abuse of employment to old workers, gender discrimination, race discrimination, nationality discrimination. We don't even have laws that discriminate against Singaporeans, with the need to serve NS, and CPF contributions.
NO ALARM BELLS
When workers are reported to receive $800 for gross wage after OT, there are no alarm bells ringing. Instead calls for a spoonfed table to be done for judgment convenience of who is right and wrong. I am not interested in the judgment that Singaporeans are pre-occupied with. A version that is being fair and not fair, with a decorum of logical framework that deem as fair to play judge. Singapore is soulless. HAS IT BEEN FAIR AROUND US ! Which we believe in using the soulless values to deem what is fair, right and logical ... which is really pure emotions?
With many countries practising anti-discrimination laws this would not even be acceptable. With many countries with minimum wage laws, this discussion is immature. With many countries with unions and voices that steps up with the hint of abuse, Singaporeans would receive slaps after slaps and then after the bruises and soreness have been reddened, then someone would weakly call out ... let us be "fair and logical".
The joke is on us dear Singaporeans. There is never fair and logic in Singapore but our beliefs of a system that never existed. It has however intensified with the new Singapore emerging since 2004.
DID IT REALLY HAPPEN !
Singaporeans deserve the abuse that rains constantly. We do not stand up for abuse. We do not want to hear of it, such that upon hearing the potential labour abuse in this cupcake saga, many are echoing ... did it really happen?
We do not even want to find out if this is even true, and quite happy to sit back thinking it does not affect us. The thought that such stories do exist should sicken those who love their country and countrymen. Even if it is a hoax, we should not stand for such abuse to happen in our backyard.
Shame on those who feel apathetic!
NO ONE CARES ENOUGH
If the claims of the CEO is true, then why isn't anyone protesting against whistle blowing workers and fake workers to malign the innocent owner of the cupcake company? It is because no one could care if either the story on the workers or the cupcake owner is true.
To quote this person with initials AMMG,
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"Twelve Cupcakes make awesome cupcakes. I don't really care whether it's made with slave labour. The product is excellent. The service is good. Frankly, Singaporeans just want their money's worth and Twelve Cupcakes delivers. While the majority here may express disgust at Daniel Ong, the majority out there in the streets couldn't care less about a handful of underpaid foreign workers. This is a capitalist society and whatever works for this company is fine as long as it does not breach the law - which it hasn't.
So those of you wishing to moralize about this issue can stop eating from Twelve Cupcakes while I enjoy them in relative bliss."
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I would like to tell this person that much of Singaporeans feel the same way as him, in relative bliss as they would also enjoy themselves as they gorge themselves with fluff and sugar, not realising that some workers have been treated as slaves to give Singaporeans cupcakes.
Enjoy your cupcakes ... (yucks ...)
Singapore Singaporeans
TRS Contributor