The recent spate of abrupt business closures was back in the spotlight – from cupcakery Twelve Cupcakes to art investment firm Art Works and Jollibean – leaving employees suddenly jobless and owed unpaid wages and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

To unpack the legal and practical implications, our Head of Employment and Labour, Ian Lim, was invited onto Money FM 89.3’s Morning Shot segment, which focuses on single, topical issues with expert guests. The discussion examined whether there are gaps in the system: when companies collapse without warning, what legal protections do workers have, how do they rank against other creditors, and what steps can they take to safeguard themselves? It also explored whether more can be done to hold errant business owners accountable.

By highlighting warning signs of financial distress and offering concrete, actionable steps for employees, Ian’s commentary went beyond analysis into practical counsel, positioning him not just as a legal expert but as a trusted adviser to workers.

Ian was joined by Krist Boo, Senior Business Correspondent at The Straits Times. Listen to the recording here.