In a startling revelation, a part-time employee of a fast-food restaurant in Singapore took to social media to share an alarming practice instituted by their general manager: employees are being charged $10 for each food tray a customer carelessly discards in the trash. The part-timer posted their experience on Reddit’s ‘Ask Singapore’ forum, igniting a heated discussion about employee rights and company policies.

According to the worker’s account, the issue arose due to some “clueless customers” who throw away their food trays along with leftovers, causing a frustrating challenge for staff. “Most of my co-workers are foreigners. We try our best to double-check every time we take out the trash in case there’s a tray in the bin,” they explained, underscoring the difficulty when working in an understaffed environment.

The general manager's controversial policy stipulates that the employee responsible for disposing of the trash must pay a $10 fine for each tray that goes missing. The employee, baffled by this approach, questioned the legality of such a practice, arguing, “I doubt a tray costs $10, and I feel it should not be on us to pay back at all.”

The comments section of the post quickly filled with mixed opinions. Some users sided with the management, claiming that as the trays are company property, the employee should be accountable for ensuring all trays are checked before disposal. One commentator remarked, “If you are tasked specifically to check the trash for the tray, legally, it’s allowable to deduct since you are not performing the task up to standard.”

Conversely, many voiced their concern over the fairness of the policy, arguing that customers should not be penalized for actions they did not intend to commit. “You cannot deduct salary under Singapore employment law just because it was you collecting that day, and you need to establish blame,” pointed out one user. This sentiment resonated with others, who cautioned that simply being the one tasked with trash collection does not equate to negligence.

Further complicating the matter is the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) stipulation that any deductions from employee salaries must follow a formal inquiry to ascertain fault. Companies can only deduct from salaries for loss or damage if it is proven the employee was negligent. Additionally, deductions cannot exceed 25% of a worker's monthly salary and must be executed as a single payment.

As discussions continued on the forum, users provided suggestions on how employees could protect themselves against unfair deductions. Taking photos or videos during trash collection was recommended to counter any accusations made by management in the future.

This controversy raises significant questions about labor policies and employee rights in Singapore's bustling food service industry. With increasing scrutiny on workplace practices, it serves as a reminder for workers to stay informed about their rights and the legal framework surrounding employment. Will this incident spark a change in how fast food chains handle employee accountability, or is it just a isolated case? Only time will tell as the conversation surrounding worker treatment and legality continues to unfold.