When Gong Cha suddenly shut down all their outlets in Singapore, the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) released a statement saying they are ready to help union members who may be affected by the closure.
In their statement, FDAWU noted that Gong Cha is a non-unionised company, which means workers there are not directly under union representation. Still, the union stressed it stands ready to support any union members who are affected.
Support includes linking workers to NTUC’s e2i for job matching, career coaching and skills upgrading. Affected Singaporeans can also tap the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, which gives up to 6000 dollars in temporary financial aid.
Union members can further use the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) to offset training costs if they need to upskill. FDAWU also urged all F&B workers to join the union early, so they do not end up without protection when sudden closures or retrenchments happen.
Gong Cha shuts down all 29 outlets in Singapore
In case you missed it, Gong Cha announced on Oct 2 that all 29 outlets in Singapore have closed. The brand did not renew its franchise agreement here. It will only relaunch in 2026 under new local partners as part of a global revamp. Gong Cha’s global CEO said Singapore is an important market, but for now, the shutters are down.
This was not a case of poor sales. It was a company decision. One day, you are serving bubble tea, the next day the brand pulls out, and the jobs disappear. For workers, that is the harsh reality of the F&B industry.
And Gong Cha is not the first. According to Channel News Asia, over 3,000 F&B establishments in Singapore closed in 2024, the highest in almost two decades since 2005. Some were small cafes, others were big names. Privé shut down all restaurants. Even Michelin-starred restaurants could not survive rising costs and changing consumer habits.
The official numbers also paint the same picture.
According to the latest F&B Services Index, total food and beverage sales in August 2025 fell by 0.4 per cent year on year, and also dipped 0.4 per cent month on month after seasonal adjustment.
Sales value stood at about $1 billion, and more than a quarter of these sales were online. This shows that while demand is shifting, traditional outlets continue to struggle.
So, what does this mean for workers?
It means that, even if your outlet is crowded today, even if your boss says business is good, you still cannot be sure your job is safe. Rent can increase, costs can rise, franchise rights can be lost, and suddenly your workplace disappears.
That is why workers need protection. As FDAWU has highlighted, join a union early, so when unexpected closures happen, you have someone to fight for your rights and support you through the transition. Do not wait until your outlet closes, then panic.
Gong Cha will return in 2026 with a new franchisee. But for the workers who lost their jobs this week, two years is a long wait.
This is the reality of F&B in Singapore. Shops may look steady and queues may look long on the outside, but for workers, nothing is guaranteed.
