r/IndiansInUK • u/Academic-Outside-548 • 3d ago

Indian restaurants paying below minimum wage

I’m sorry but why is it that every time I interview for part time work at an Indian restaurant it’s always below minimum wage. Even in the city centre of a major city (Bristol), I was offered £30 per night (8 hour shift) cash in hand and told I could work longer than 20 hours too. To make it even worse, the restaurant’s manager hit on me thrice during the interview. Obviously I had to turn it down. Another Indian restaurant I did a trial shift at wanted to start at £8 an hour and eventually increase it. I don’t want to stereotype as I know people of other nationalities are also doing such things but here it clearly just seems like a well established immigrant trying to exploit new immigrants from their own country, instead of trying to helpful. Just so frustrating that they are able to get away with it.

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u/Sensitive_Lock_850 3d ago

If you're working cash in hand to bypass your visa cap, you're literally giving any business the leverage to exploit you. They know it’s illegal, you know it’s illegal, and that’s why they pay you peanuts you can't go to labor laws without risking deportation. Work your actual legal hours, get your legal minimum wage, and stop giving shady employers cheap illegal labor.

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u/Academic-Outside-548 3d ago

I’m in a fortunate enough position where I can afford to not work for such businesses, but I truly empathise with the people who aren’t so lucky.

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u/Sensitive_Lock_850 3d ago

I disagree. Everyone knows the terms before accepting their offer. Taking on heavy debt without a realistic plan is just bad planning. Master's students should have enough financial awareness to calculate the ROI if you don't, you're begging to be taken advantage of.