Twelve Cupcakes ceases operations as company is placed under provisional liquidation

In December 2016, they sold the company to Kolkata-based Dhunseri Group, which is one of the 10 largest tea companies in India, after announcing their divorce the same month.

In 2020, the pair were charged with underpaying the company’s foreign employees between 2013 and 2016. They each faced 24 charges involving eight employees, and were fined $65,000 each in 2021.

Mr Ong’s elder sister Yvonne Ong, who was a director of the company during the pair’s tenure, was also fined $20,000 over similar charges.

Separately, Twelve Cupcakes under its current management

for underpaying seven of its foreign employees, including one worker who at times received only about half the wages.

The

– affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress – in February 2021, after the majority of its workers voted for it in a secret ballot administered by the Ministry of Manpower.

In a text message sent to staff on Oct 30 that was seen by The Straits Times, the company said that a union representative will be arranging a meeting with all employees. It added that non-union staff would also receive assistance.

ST has contacted NTUC for comment.