Jollibean fined S$68,000 for owing CPF contributions to at least 16 employees

Homegrown soy milk brand Jollibean Foods was fined S$68,000 in court on Sep. 24 for owing Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to at least 16 employees.

This came amidst recent closures of Jollibean outlets across Singapore over the past year, with various employees coming forward to the media over unpaid salaries and CPF contributions.

The court heard that Jollibean owes S$212,295 in CPF arrears, CNA reported.

Investor backed out of buyover: Jollibean director

Between late 2024 and early 2025, the company reportedly failed to pay CPF contributions to at least 16 employees.

Jollibean company director Shahrul Nazrin Mohd Dahlan pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to 34 charges under the CPF Act on Sep. 4.

Shahrul had told the court at a previous hearing that the company "is in the final lap of negotiation for a buyover", and that Jollibean Foods would repay the arrears after the buyover was complete and the funds came in.

The company was granted a final adjournment for the payment of the arrears — which then amounted to S$199,301 — to Aug. 27.

However, the CPF prosecutor told the court on Sep. 24 that no such payments had been received yet, and noted that Jollibean was fined S$1,200 in November 1998 for a similar offence.

Shahrul said in court that Jollibean had a prospective investor willing to buy over the brand, but after the case was reported in the media, the investor backed out.

He said that the company was in talks with someone else to take over, and it will be "concluded next month".

As he was told it was the last adjournment, Shahrul said he could only plead guilty and settle the CPF arrears afterwards.

Fined S$68,000

In mitigation, Shahrul asked for leniency as the company is "going through financial difficulties".

"Our number one priority is to settle the CPF and settle outstanding staff salary with all our previous employees," he said, as cited by CNA.

Sahrul also said that with a S$68,000 fine from the court, the company will have to "juggle between" paying the fine and paying their staff.

Ultimately, the judge fined Jollibean S$68,000 and also issued a certificate of liability for the CPF arrears.

Shahrul asked for a month's time to pay the fine.

The judge acceded to his request and ordered the full fine of S$68,000 to be paid by Oct. 22.

Background

In July, it was reported that Jollibean has closed all but five of its outlets in the country.

29 Jollibean employees also filed claims that they were owed months of salaries and CPF contributions.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) previously stated that investigations are ongoing.

MOM added that it had been working with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) to assist those who were affected.

Top image from Google/CPFB website