Qi Ji refutes social media post about S$0.40/hr pay raise for its cleaner staff

Singapore F&B chain eatery Qi Ji has refuted a social post that insinuated it treated a long-time staff unfairly.

The post, uploaded by TikTok user @loserirnh, featured two letters.

The first was a letter on a salary revision dated Mar. 25, 2025.

Addressed to a cleaner, the letter stated that the worker's remuneration had been revised from S$10.15 per hour to S$10.55 per hour, an increase of 40 cents.

"This revision is a reflection of your dedication, attitude and quality of work," the letter stated.

It went on to praise the staff for their "valuable contribution to our organisation" and urged them to perform with "a greater zeal and enthusiasm" in the year ahead.

Superimposed on the photo of the letter were the words: "20 years of sweat and they toss 40 cents like spare change."

The next letter, dated Mar. 31, 2025, appreciated the cleaner for their long service.

It stated that the company would award them with an additional day of annual leave "in celebration of your long service".

Qi Ji: Post incorrectly insinuated company does not value employees

Qi Ji told Mothership that the post "unfairly and incorrectly insinuated that our company does not value our employees and treats them unfairly".

The F&B brand also provided some background context to the case:

• The cleaner was employed full-time in April 2009 until July 2014
• The cleaner rejoined the company full-time in October 2014 and remained until March 2023
• The cleaner had their contract converted to part-time employment, at their request

"This naturally necessitated a review of the salary level and salary structure, to be in accordance with our salary guidelines," said a spokesperson for Qi Ji.

The spokesperson also said the cleaner had a salary adjustment each year.

In March 2024, their salary was increased by 5.72 per cent.

In March 2025, their salary was increased by 3.94 per cent.

As per this rate of increment, the cleaner was earning S$9.60 per hour before March 2024.

They then received a S$0.55 increase in March 2024 and a S$0.40 increase in March 2025.

"Our company’s salary adjustments are in line with the Progressive Wage Model advocated by the National Trades Union Congress," said the spokesperson.

"We believe that the employee in this situation has been treated fairly and suitably, and we take any statements that allege otherwise with utmost seriousness."

Under the Progressive Wage Model, full-time cleaners in F&B establishments must be paid a minimum of S$1,740 to S$2,455 depending on their job level; part-time workers' wage requirements are pro-rated accordingly.

Top images: @loserirnh/TikTok