Tipsy Collective Pays Employees Overdue Salaries, Shuts 3 Outlets

4 Shareholders Inject Funds; Affected Staff Redeployed to Group's Remaining 7 Outlets

- Joyce Lim

More than 100 employees of hospitality group Tipsy Collective who were affected by delayed October salary payments received all dues by December, after fresh investor funding ensured timely payouts and full Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

The employees, who were supposed to receive their October salaries on Nov 5, initially received partial payments a few days late.

They were fully paid by mid-November after four shareholders injected an undisclosed amount of money to rescue the business. The funds were also used to pay the CPF owed to the employees for September and October.

With fresh funds injected, the company managed to pay salaries on time along with full CPF contributions on Dec 5.

The home-grown food and beverage operator has been grappling with legal disputes and financial instability. It has closed two bars and one restaurant since October. The workers were redeployed to the company's remaining seven outlets, a spokesman said.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the spokesman said the October salaries, which were due on Nov 5, were paid only by mid-November to operations staff, while about 20 headquarters employees received their salaries in late November.

The company went through a management change in November amid an ongoing legal battle between its co-founder and shareholders.

The spokesman said funding requests were sent to all of the group's six shareholders, who include co-founder David Gan and former chief operating officer Reuben Low.