A man forced to work sometimes more than 70 hours a week at a Napier supermarket has been granted more than $25,000 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
Amit Sharma was in New Zealand from India on a work visa when he was exploited at a Four Square in Napier, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reports.
Mr Sharma was expected to reimburse the equivalent of his PAYE tax to employer Chetanbhai Patel to repay a loan.
Mr Patel was endorsing his application for permanent residency and Mr Sharma felt obliged to listen to his boss' demands. His visa only allowed him to work at the supermarket.
But Mr Sharma was dismissed when he refused to give up a portion of his salary, RNZ reports.
The ERA awarded him with unpaid wages and holiday pay, and said Mr Patel had falsified his wage records to cover up his payment system.
Mr Sharma was given a total of $25,008.37.
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