Indian Restaurant Chain Fined €79,000 for Exploiting Migrant Worker, Rules WRC

Dublin: The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered an Indian restaurant operator to pay more than €79,000 in compensation after finding that a migrant worker was severely exploited.

The ruling follows a complaint by Vasant Kumar Barot against Madhu Foods Limited, which trades as “Guru Indian Cuisine”. The case was brought forward with the support of Migrant Rights Centre Ireland.

Adjudication officer Brian Dalton found that the employer failed to comply with basic employment terms and had “grossly exploited” the worker by abusing the work permit system. The decision described the treatment as deceptive and exploitative, noting that the worker had been placed in highly vulnerable conditions.

According to the findings, Barot paid €15,000 to secure a work permit, raising the funds through loans from family and friends. He had been promised employment as a chef working 40 hours per week for €570, but instead was made to work across multiple locations—including farms and restaurants in Dundalk, Drogheda, Newry, and Belfast.

Excessive Hours and Severe Underpayment

The Commission found that Barot worked an average of more than 90 hours per week under extremely demanding conditions. He was required to begin work early on a farm before continuing late into the night in restaurant roles.

Payments were inconsistent and significantly below legal standards, ranging from €99 to €1,000 per week. His effective hourly wage was calculated at €2.96 in 2023 and just €1.61 in 2024—far below minimum wage requirements.

Compensation Breakdown

The WRC ordered compensation across multiple breaches, including:

• €24,500 in unpaid wages
• €15,000 for exceeding maximum weekly working hours
• €10,000 for being required to work excessive hours without adequate rest
• €5,000 for failure to maintain employment records
• €5,000 for denial of weekly rest breaks
• €761.28 for unpaid Sunday premium payments
• €532.44 for public holiday entitlements
• €3,120 for unpaid annual leave
• €300 for breach of the Terms of Employment Act

An additional €15,000 was awarded for harassment and coercion, with the adjudicator noting that the worker had been threatened with the cancellation of his permit if he raised concerns.

Madhu Foods Limited did not attend the hearings. The Commission concluded that the case involved serious breaches of employment law, including elements of discrimination, ill-treatment, and exploitation.

The total compensation awarded amounts to €79,213.72, underscoring the severity of the violations and reinforcing calls for stronger protections for migrant workers in Ireland.

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