Dancer claims unpaid salary of $4,500 and wrongful termination without notice, nightclub to be liquidated
A professional dancer from Taiwan claimed a Singapore nightclub withheld his $4,500 salary for the month of May and wrongfully terminated his employment without notice.
Stomper Anac was employed by a club called Lilibet in Rendezvous Gallery at Bras Basah Road.
Launched in September 2024, Lilibet boasted on Instagram of "bringing you the best male exotic dance performances in Singapore".
Anac told Stomp: "I was hired by a local entertainment company with the promise of a full-time dance contract and a monthly salary of $4,500.
"However, things took a dark turn. Not only was my May salary withheld, the company also terminated my employment without the legally required 30-day notice and failed to pay me the salary in lieu of notice.
"To make matters worse, they abruptly cancelled my work permit and repeatedly told me that if I didn't leave Singapore immediately, I would be 'in breach of the law'.
"Other dancers, afraid of legal consequences, left the country. But I chose to stay and fight for my rights."
The Stomper has reported to the police, Ministry of Manpower and Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).
He also posted two videos on social media on June 16 and 23 talking about his dispute with Lilibet.
Another former Lilibet dancer, Stomper Jacob, said he was facing the same issues, including unpaid wages and cancellation of his work permit without notice.
Jacob, who is from Malaysia, told Stomp: "Lilibet failed to pay its employees despite continuing operations.
"These issues affect not only local and foreign workers, but also raises serious concerns about labour rights, financial misconduct and possible evasion of accountability by the company leadership."
Anac told Stomp: "I am seeking to expose these unjust practices and to call on the media to help shed light on the challenges foreign workers may face in Singapore.
"This is not just about me - this is about a system that sometimes silences vulnerable workers through fear, misinformation, and legal threats."
In response to a Stomp query, a TADM spokesperson said TADM had received Anac's claims of unpaid salary and salary in lieu of notice against Lilibet.
"With TADM's assistance, both parties have reached a settlement during mediation on July 4," said the spokesperson.
Reacting to the settlement, Anac told Stomp: "It appears that a settlement has been reached because the company has made it clear that it has now handed over full authority to the liquidation company. It shows that the company is unable to repay any debts!
"Because once they go into liquidation, our salaries from May 1 to 31 as well as the pay in lieu of notice for not giving 30 days' notice in advance can be said to be unable to be repaid by the company."
Jacob said: "A settlement has been reached because Lilibet has entered liquidation. As a result, we no longer have any direct dealings with the previous owners and I have yet to receive my salary."
Liquidation is a process where a company's assets are seized and realised with the resulting proceeds used to pay off its debts and liabilities.
According to the Ministry of Law website, the proceeds from the realisation of the company's assets will be paid to the preferential creditors in the following order:
- Costs and expenses of winding up of the Official Receiver and the liquidator.
- Costs of the applicant for the winding up order.
- Wages or salary including allowance or reimbursement.
- Retrenchment benefits or ex-gratia payments under employment contracts.
- All amounts due in respect of workmen's compensation accrued before, on or after the commencement of winding up.
- Contributions payable by the company as employer.
- All remuneration payable to any employee in respect of vacation leave, accrued in respect of any period before, on or after the commencement of winding up.
- All tax assessed under any written law before the commencement of the winding up or assessed at any time before the time fixed for the proving of debts has expired.
Upon the completion of the liquidation, the company goes into dissolution and it ceases to exist.
Anac said: "As far as I know, the company was not handed over to the liquidation company until July."
Lilibet is still listed as a "live company" on Bizfile as of July 13. On Google, it is listed as "temporarily closed". The club's most recent social media post was on May 28.
A creditors' meeting will be held on July 17 to receive a statement of the company's affairs, appoint a liquidator and a committee of inspection.
Stomp has reached out to Lilibet for more information.
The TADM spokesperson said: "Employees in Singapore who are not paid salaries on time can file their claims with TADM, which will assist workers in recovering their salaries either through mediation or referring the case to the Employment Claims Tribunals for determination."
Employees who require assistance can contact TADM at tal.sg/tadm/contact-us.
