NEWS
TechStorm employees go public with wage claims; gov’t agencies approached to support back pay action
23 June 2025
Disaffected employees of Singapore-based regional programmer, TechTV/TechStorm, have taken their case public, telling local platform Stomp.sg that they haven’t been paid for months and, with debts mounting, they’ve approached government agencies for help.
The site, which operates as a citizen journalism platform under Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), published a story today headlined: “MOM probing TV company for unpaid salaries: 'My debt is neck deep, my property seized by bank,' says employee”.
TechTV boss Debbie Lee said today that the company was in advanced and active discussions for further funding, but that the process required more time to mature. She also said the company had been in regular contact with freelance contractors and the internal team, and had shared “with sufficient transparency the company's quest for new investors despite a brutal and protracted VC winter”. The full statement is below.
The Stomp article cites five unnamed employees from TechTV Network who claim they have not been paid their salaries for months.
One staffer, identified only as Laurence, said: "My property was seized by the bank. I cannot afford a home and medical maintenance. All our emergency funds have already been exhausted”.
Another anonymous staffer told the platform that employees were owed salaries dating back to September 2024, and that “the financial and emotional toll on us has been severe… we are now at a breaking point”.
He also alleged that employees' Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions have not been made since June 2024.
Singapore employers are legally required to submit CPF contributions by the 14th of the following month in terms of the Central Provident Fund Act. TechTV does not appear on the list of Singapore employers convicted under the Act between May 2023 and April 2025.
According to Stomp, MOM and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) are assisting the five on their claims for unpaid salaries.
ContentAsia has approached the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for comment on the investigation; updates to come.
FULL STATEMENT FROM TECHSTORM
We are in advanced and active discussions with various third parties in relation to investment for us as a Singapore startup and SME (i.e. further funding), working on generating more earnings, sales and new business development activities which will all create and generate fresh capital and cash flow not just for OPEX but also to drive long term growth. All of these upon maturity will be in the best interest of the company’s team members and benefit them for a win-win result. As the plans require the buy-in and contribution of third parties, this process requires more time to mature.
We are in regular communication with the company's external freelance contractors and internal team members in this regard and have shared with sufficient transparency the company's quest for new investors despite a brutal and protracted VC winter which precedes us as a growth startup in Singapore seeking financing for growth. (See https://www.corumgroup.
Despite these macros, we are optimistic about the business growth for our sector in the long term and on the optimism of the external funding completion, driving new sales, growth and profitability. We’re eager to see on a macro level, capital return that will be favourable, not limiting to Singapore companies like us but the larger startup scene locally and in Southeast Asia, with more sensibility and manageable interest levels via the federal rate cuts in Q3.
As a company, we have lined up strong project plans ahead in active business operations. Our company's internal stakeholders are positive, and have encouraged us to fight on and root for us to keep up the fighting spirit and tenacity to ride through macro choppy waters while paving out steps and routes to securing cash flow and financing.
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