Indian migrant charged $42,000 for two Christchurch jobs, neither paid wages
Mad’z Drink ‘N’ Dine on Papanui Rd closed after a fire in May 2025.
His first job ended within weeks. The same broker arranged another for $12,000.
An Indian migrant was charged $42,000 for two jobs in Christchurch, both arranged through the same broker, only to end up without wages from either employer.
Gurpreet Singh arrived in New Zealand in July 2023 after paying the equivalent of $30,000 for a job at a Christchurch liquor store. Within 25 days, the job was gone, and he had not received any wages.
The same man then arranged another job for Singh, this time at Mad'z Drink 'N' Dine, a Christchurch bar that used to be operated by IK Hospitality Limited. But Singh was told he would need to pay another $12,000 to transfer his work visa.
He borrowed money from friends overseas and accepted the offer, only to work at the bar for nearly six weeks without wages. The extraordinary sequence emerged in two Employment Relations Authority (ERA) determinations, the latest issued on October 29, 2026, ordering the bar's manager to personally pay Singh $19,469.77.
Two jobs, one broker
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Singh arrived on New Zealand on July 3, 2023, on an Accredited Employer Work Visa to work as a liquor store duty manager.
In his first employment case (last year), he gave unchallenged evidence that a broker, who was also a former director of IK Hospitality, had arranged the initial $30,000 payment. The broker described the liquor store operator as his friend and customer.
On July 28, Singh was told there was no more work. The broker then offered him employment at Mad'z Drink 'N' Dine for another $12,000, promising assistance with his weekly rent.
Singh started work on August 3. He borrowed $10,000 from two friends overseas and handed over $12,000 in cash to the broker a fortnight later.
The ERA found the second payment was an unlawful employment premium. However, it did not investigate the first employer or determine whether the initial $30,000 payment was unlawful.
Worked without wages
Singh worked six days a week, performing duties including serving customers, handling tills and cleaning. IK Hospitality claimed he was merely gaining experience towards a liquor licensing qualification rather than working as an employee.
But WhatsApp messages showed the bar manager instructing him to mop floors, check customers' identification, clean beer taps and lock the premises. The ERA rejected the company's explanation and found Singh was entitled to wages.
In October 2025, Singh was awarded more than $73,000, including unpaid wages, compensation for humiliation, lost earnings, repayment of the unlawful premium and his share of penalties.
However, IK Hospitality failed to pay and entered liquidation in January 2026, leaving Singh to pursue the bar manager personally.
The second claim was limited to $19,469.77 because the legal provision used to hold individuals personally liable covered the unlawful $12,000 premium and $7,469.77 in unpaid wages and holiday pay.
The other compensation and penalties awarded last year against the company were not recoverable.
In his October 29 ruling, ERA member Peter van Keulen found the bar manager had knowingly participated in the breaches and ordered him to pay the $19,469.77 personally.
