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International Students Allege Widespread Exploitation in Indian Restaurants Across Australia
International students working in Indian restaurants across Australia report being systematically underpaid and exploited. Workers describe being paid well below minimum wage, receiving cash-in-hand payments, working unpaid trial shifts and overtime, and being denied payslips and superannuation practices.
Students say fear of visa cancellation, threats of being reported to authorities, rising living costs in Sydney, and financial dependence on employers prevent them from speaking out. The gaps in Fair Work enforcement, combined with insecure migration status, have created conditions in which wage theft in hospitality remains widespread and largely unchecked.
Why NOW,
International students in Australian hospitality have faced widespread theft, with surveys showing that 71-77% are paid below the minimum wage. Fair Work Ombudsman data confirm hospitality as a high-risk sector, recovering $473 million in 2023-24 and $358 million in 2024-2025, often for migrant underpayments as low as $10-14/hour.
As of 1015, International students have contributed significantly to the Australian economy, with estimates placing their expenditure at around $50 billion to $53.6 billion annually, yet many exist in a grey zone where labour protections are difficult to access in practice. While underpayment in hospitality is a long-standing issue, international students face unique vulnerabilities due to temporary visas, limited work rights, and fear of immigration consequences. Their experiences reveal a systemic failure, one that goes beyond individual employers and points to structural weaknesses in enforcement, oversight, and worker protection.
Below-average wages and cash payments
Nearly all students interviewed said they were paid below the legal minimum wage under the hospitality award. The minimum hourly wage for an adult employee aged 21 and over ranges from $24.28 to $30.73, depending on the classification, for full-time and part-time roles. Casual employees are entitled to higher rates, ranging from $30.35 to 38.41 per hour.
Cash-in-hand payments were described as routine. Wages were often paid weekly, without payslips or formal records of hours worked. Several students said they were told this was “normal” or framed as a condition of employment.
“I knew the pay wasn’t legal,” said Riya (name changed), a postgraduate student working as a waitress at an Indian restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney. “I was being paid in cash, there were no payslips, no contract, and there was no holiday pay or any kind of leave. I knew this wasn’t how it was supposed to work in Australia.”
She said the decision to stay silent was driven by financial pressure rather than ignorance. “When you’re new to the country, and rent has to be paid every week, you don’t feel like you have a choice. You tell yourself you’ll manage for now and maybe leave later, but in the meantime, you need the money.”
Without formal contracts or payslips, students said they were left with little proof of their employment, making it extremely difficult to challenge underpayment or lodge complaints once they left their jobs.
Unpaid trial shifts and overtime
Unpaid “trial shifts” were among the most common forms of exploitation reported. Students said they were often asked to work full shifts, sometimes lasting up to ten hours without pay, with employers claiming the work was necessary to assess performance.
“I worked a full dinner service on a busy Friday night,” said Arjun, working as a kitchen hand. “They called it a trial. I never got paid, and they never contacted me again.”
Even after securing jobs, many students reported being expected to stay back after rostered hours without additional pay. Some said employers routinely underreported their hours or paid a flat rate regardless of how long they worked.
No payslips, no superannuation
Students consistently reported not receiving payslips or superannuation contributions, even though they were legally entitled to both. Several said they were unaware of their superannuation rights when they first arrived in Australia.
“I didn’t know what superannuation was for my first year,” said Neha, who worked in hospitality throughout her degree. “When I finally understood, I felt it was too risky to ask questions.”
For many international students, fear is shaped less by direct threats and more by how difficult it has become to secure casual work in Sydney. With rent, transport and basic living costs continuing to rise, interviewees said refusing shifts often feels like a risk they cannot afford to take.
“It’s already so hard to get a casual job here,” said Mohit, a kitchen hand. “There are hundreds of students applying for the same role, and employers know that. When you’re barely managing rent and groceries, you can’t be picky. You take whatever shifts you’re given because you don’t know if you’ll get another chance.”
Several students described a constant fear of being replaced if they declined work, even once. They said this pressure was rarely spoken aloud but was always present.
“No one has to threaten you directly,” Mohit added. “The fear is always there. If you say no to a shift, you worry they’ll just stop calling you and give your hours to someone else. Once that happens, you’re basically out of work, and in a city like Sydney, not having a job even for a few weeks can put you in real trouble.”
The experiences of international students in Indian restaurants highlight a broader contradiction within Australia’s migration and labour systems. While international students are actively recruited and economically essential, many remain excluded from meaningful workplace protection.
