Two managers of Auckland Indian restaurant chain Masala have pleaded guilty today to exploiting their workers.
Joti Jain, 42, admitted to 15 charges relating to immigration and exploitation issues, Newstalk ZB reports.
Rajwinder Singh Grewal, 36, pleaded guilty to five charges.
Both managers appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning and face up to seven years in prison or a $100,000 fine.
The Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) says the guilty pleas should come as a warning for other managers exploiting workers.
"Exploitation of migrant workers is a growing problem in New Zealand," says UNEMIG coordinator Dennis Maga. "It is now important to ensure there is ongoing monitoring. Migrant workers who come to contribute to New Zealand must be welcomed, not exploited."
Workers at the chain were paid as little as $2 an hour, the court heard.
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