Well Sushi slammed with $80K in penalties and repayments after underpaying vulnerable employee. Photo by Valeria Boltneva
📍 Wellington, NZ – July 17, 2025
A popular Lower Hutt sushi restaurant has been stung with serious financial penalties after a shocking case of wage theft was uncovered involving a migrant worker.
🛑 Employment watchdogs have ordered Well Sushi to pay:
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💸 $53,940 in unpaid wages
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⚖️ $30,000 in penalties
This follows an investigation by the Employment Relations Authority, which found the business breached multiple employment laws, targeting a worker described as “inherently vulnerable.”
🚨 What They Did Wrong:
The restaurant failed to:
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❌ Pay minimum wage
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❌ Provide annual holiday entitlements
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❌ Pay time-and-a-half for public holidays
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❌ Pay sick leave
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❌ Keep accurate time records
The affected worker—originally sponsored by the business on a work visa—is now a permanent New Zealand resident and has since received the owed wages.
📢 Official Response:
🗣️ A Labour Inspectorate spokesperson described the employer’s actions as unacceptable:
“Well Sushi’s conduct undermined the trust and confidence expected in any employment relationship.”
Despite the restaurant claiming the breaches were “inadvertent”, the Labour Inspectorate stood firm, stating that:
“The fact that arrears exceeded $50,000 is a sign of how deeply this employee was disadvantaged by an employer they trusted.” – Taahera Begum, Labour Inspectorate Manager
🧭 Why This Matters:
This case sends a clear warning to employers across Aotearoa:
💥 Breaching employment laws can cost big.
🔍 Migrant workers deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else.
⚖️ Ignorance is no excuse.
SOURCE: RNZ