EMPLOYEES of True Fitness said the Singapore-owned company still owed them salaries and commissions after ceasing its Malaysian operations on June 10.

About 30 employees from True Fitness gathered in front of the Labour Department office in Subang Jaya today to protest against the company’s abrupt closure and to claim the monies owing to them.

Several employees also filed a report at the labour office this morning.

Manager for True Fitness branch in Taipan Subang Jaya, Shahrul Hamiri Shahrudin, said the senior management told the employees to stay on despite knowing the company’s financial struggles as a show of support and loyalty.

“We began receiving delayed monthly salaries since June 2016. We thought the situation would get better but we were shocked to receive a notice through a text message in less than 24 hours saying that True Fitness will no longer be operating from June 10,” he said.

He said the total commission is RM16,488 for five employees in True Fitness Taipan since June until August 2016 and February until April this year.

As for their branches in Jaya 33 and Sunway Giza, the commission amounted to RM22,104 for six employees and RM27,505 for seven employees respectively in August 2016 and February until April 2017.

On June 10, all True Fitness and True Spa centres in Malaysia shut down abruptly because they were no longer “financially viable”, the company announced in a statement.

The company also blamed “evolving market conditions” for the decision.

In Thailand, its last two outlets were closed on Friday following a gradual slowdown of operations over the week.

A True Fitness Taipan member, Anthony Tan, said the company has breached its contract by not providing a 30-day notice before their shutdown.

“In the contract, it was clearly stated that the company will give all members a 30-day notice prior to closure or relocation (of offices).

“But we were only notified in less than 24 hours by the managers. We are considering legal action,” said Tan, a member since May 2014.

Tan paid RM4,000 for a two-year membership for he and his wife.

On February 2016, they signed up for a lifetime package at RM8,200 per person.

“I signed up with True Fitness because they have been around for 10 years and seemed reliable. I feel cheated.”

It was reported that True Fitness said it had made arrangements with CHi Fitness to transfer memberships and personal training sessions which can be done via online redemption.

However, CHi Fitness has denied the arrangement.

Lawyer and member Chen Yu Szen is fighting for the members’ rights by getting them to gather this weekend, on June 17 and 18, to seek the best course of action.

Chen, who just renewed his membership after two years, said there are separate legal actions for employees and members.

“The employees are asking for their claims while the members are asking for claims on membership fees.

“We will decide during the meeting this weekend whether both groups should join together or take separate actions.”

The Malaysian Insight tried contacting True Fitness Malaysia director Coreen Shanmugam but to no avail.

According to Shahrul, Coreen has not been in office since last month and is believed to be in Singapore. –  June 13, 2017.