Ronghui, a trainee manager at Haidilao hotpot restaurant in Plaza Singapura, revealed his monthly salary of about S$10,000 in an interview with content creator Xavier Chen.
The interview showing daily operations of Haidilao staff gained viral attention after the salary disclosure at the video’s start.
Ronghui moved from Fujian, China to Singapore 20 years ago and became a citizen. His nearly six years of service at Haidilao led to his promotion to his current position.
In the video, Ronghui noted that while Singapore lacks a strong tipping culture compared to other countries, Haidilao employees keep all tips they receive. The largest tip he ever received was S$1,000.
His job involves supervising staff and customers, greeting guests with a smile, and making sure they are seated comfortably.
The job includes challenges. Ronghui recalled trying to fulfill a difficult request when a customer asked him to remove all seeds from a dragon fruit. “I tried my best to do it,” he said.
He shared positive experiences, including when customers surprised him with a birthday cake after learning the date from other staff.
A Haidilao spokesperson responded that the salary mentioned was an “exception” rather than standard. The company explained the figure reflected “special combination of factors, including store location, specialized role, and extensive working hours.”
The company added their salary structure accounts for these variables, and this case “should not be seen as representative of the average income.”
The salary claim sparked online debate. Critics noted management trainees typically earn around S$3,000 monthly, citing Glassdoor estimates that place upper-end base pay for management trainees at approximately S$36,000 yearly.
Some commenters supported the claim, stating S$10,000 seemed reasonable given Ronghui’s six years of experience. Others suggested the high salary might relate to the restaurant’s revenue and management practices.
Haidilao stated they were “committed to offering competitive compensation and growth opportunities, recognizing that dedication and hard work can lead to remarkable achievements.”
