"Extortion of immigrants exposed as Hamilton restaurant ordered to pay $99K in damages,"

Three immigrant restaurant workers on less than $8 per hour and who were not paid for all the time they worked were told they had to give $30,000 to their employers to remain in the country or risk deportation...

Now the staff have gone on to have a significant win with the Employment Relations Authority.

JDfoods was trading as the restaurant Chilli India in Dinsdale and was owned by husband and wife team, Jayant and Deepti Kaushal. The restaurant has now closed.

According to a decision released this week, the inspector’s claim, supported by extensive documentary and audio evidence, alleged JDfoods coerced employees into making payments under the threat of losing their jobs and, consequently, their right to remain in New Zealand.

Along with extracting payments from their employees, the inspector filed evidence some employees were paid as low as $7.68 per hour, were routinely paid for fewer hours than they worked and were never paid what they were owed for working public holidays...

Loftus ordered JDfoods and the Kaushals to pay $99,697, including penalties to MBIE and arrears owed to three employees...