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SINGAPORE – Robinsons department store said it is doing its best to transfer staff to other brands from its parent company, after announcing on Friday (October 30) that it will close its last two stores at The Heeren and Raffles City Shopping Center.
The retailer employs 175 staff members here.
“Any movement of personnel will depend on the circumstances. We are doing everything possible to see how we can accommodate Robinsons personnel in other brands,” he told The Straits Times.
Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group owns Robinsons, as well as franchises such as Marks & Spencer and Zara.
Robinsons said on Friday it was liquidating the two stores in Singapore, as well as two stores in Malaysia. The Malaysian stores employ 125 people.
“All store operations personnel under Robinsons Singapore and Malaysia will remain in Robinsons employment until further notice,” the company said.
The retailer said its employees were informed on Friday of the liquidation of the stores, adding that the liquidators will work to maximize returns for creditors, including employees.
Robinsons said his administration has ensured that employees are backed with payments in accordance with the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act. They will be made to workers in the next pay cycle.
“(This) is well ahead of the usual time for the liquidation process, which would normally take months,” the company added.
The payments will be added to the employees’ wages, which will be paid in full, based on the number of hours worked, Robinsons said.
The last day for Singapore stores is unclear. Robinsons said the designated liquidators are in negotiations with the owners, but “we expect the stores to remain open for the next several weeks.”
The company’s online shopping platforms are also not operational, but shoppers can visit the Heeren and Raffles City stores to shop in the meantime.
Following Robinsons’ announcement on Friday, OCBC Bank said it will cancel your OCBC Robinsons credit card effective April 15 of next year.
Vincent Tan, Director of Card Business at OCBC, said: “We are grateful to have been able to partner with Robinsons on a successful co-branded credit card platform in Singapore for the past 18 years.”
Robinsons also encouraged all customers with Robinsons gift cards and vouchers to redeem them as soon as possible.
“Stores in Singapore will only accept Robinson gift cards and vouchers during the liquidation process and as long as the stores remain open,” he said.
Customers of Robinsons stores here were also informed on Friday that coupons can only be used for purchases of at least twice the value of the coupons. This means that a $ 20 coupon, for example, can be used only with a minimum spend of $ 40.
Additional reporting by Jessie Lim
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