18 Sep 2026

Author:: By Europol (Netherlands)

Hospitality Restaurants & bars Cleaning & maintenance

India Netherlands Belgium Germany Luxembourg ...

Intimidation Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time Restricted mobility Wage Theft Excessive production targets ...

Hospitality Restaurants & bars Cleaning & maintenance

India Netherlands Belgium Germany Luxembourg France Switzerland

Intimidation Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time Restricted mobility Wage Theft Excessive production targets Denial of leave Freedom of Expression Human Trafficking Work & Conditions Migrants & Immigrants Labour Rights Workers/Employees

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Hospitality Restaurants & bars Cleaning & maintenance

India Netherlands Belgium Germany Luxembourg France Switzerland

Allegations

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Netherlands

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in the Netherlands. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Restaurants & bars , Gender not reported , Documented migrants ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - India , Cleaning & maintenance , Gender not reported )

Issues

Intimidation , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Restricted mobility , Wage Theft , Excessive production targets , Denial of leave , Freedom of Expression , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Belgium

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in the Belgium. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Germany

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in Germany. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Germany , Restaurants & bars , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Luxembourg

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in Luxembourg. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: France

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in France. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Switzerland

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in Switzerland. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and The Netherlands - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Article

18 Sep 2026

Author:

By Europol (Netherlands)

Europe: Restaurant chain accused of subjecting Indian workers to 80-hour work weeks, intimidation and trafficking

Allegations

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Netherlands

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Intimidation , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Restricted mobility , Wage Theft , Excessive production targets , Denial of leave , Freedom of Expression , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Belgium

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in the Belgium. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Germany

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in Germany. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Germany , Restaurants & bars , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Luxembourg

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in Luxembourg. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, France, and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: France

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in France. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

Summary

Date Reported: 18 Sep 2026

Location: Switzerland

Migrant workers, mainly Indian nationals, were allegedly forced to work up to 16 hours per day, underpaid, and prevented from leaving the country by an Indian restaurant chain in Switzerland. The suspects allegedly pressured their victims and their families, using psychological coercion to force workers to work harder and to prevent complaints. Workers were suppose to be employed as specialist chefs, but instead worked as dishwashers, cleaners, waiting staff, or as restaurant managers and did not receive the wage that they should have received. The workers 'often' laboured for up to 80 hours a week, across six or seven days. The workers conducted "heavy physical labour" faced penalties for early departure, and were subjected to threats of violence. Abuses by the same chain or at restaurants associated with it were also identified in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and The Netherlands - once case has thus been added for each country.

Other

Not Reported ( Restaurants & bars ) - Employer

Affected

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Issues

Work & Conditions , Human Trafficking

Response

Response sought: No

Source type: Government publication

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Europe: Restaurant chain accused of subjecting Indian workers to 80-hour work weeks, intimidation and trafficking