Four Indian women working at a beauty salon in Auckland are alleging exploitation and financial misconduct against their employer, Yogesh Thapar, following their arrival in New Zealand, Stuff has reported. Anita Verma, one of the women, expressed her distress, stating, “I am very sad. My daughter isn’t here in the country, and I miss her every day, because I am very alone,” Stuff quoted.
Verma has not seen her two-year-old daughter since arriving in New Zealand in November, citing her inability to afford her daughter’s relocation. Despite working for four months at Thapar's salon, Diva Hair and Beauty, she claims she has not received any wages. Three other women, all of whom also relocated from India, have reported similar experiences, alleging that they have not been given any work since their arrival.
Each woman reportedly paid up to $50,000 to secure their jobs, a claim that Thapar denies, calling the allegations “false.” The women did not undergo work trials or interviews before coming to New Zealand and admit to having only “basic” skills in beauty therapy. An intermediary, who is connected to the women, claims to have facilitated these payments and possesses bank statements confirming the transactions.
The intermediary also mentioned that she provided Thapar with a $38,000 Land Cruiser as part of the arrangement for one of the visas. While Thapar acknowledges having the vehicle, he asserts he purchased it legitimately. The women have a recorded conversation in Punjabi that allegedly captures Thapar admitting to charging them for their jobs and suggesting arrangements that would involve paying them below the minimum wage.
The four women are now relying on meals from a local gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Papatoetoe to survive, with the temple’s chair, Prithi Pal Singh Basra, stating that they serve nearly 10,000 meals a week, a sign of the growing struggles faced by the Indian migrant community in Auckland. “To see and meet those people, it hurts you,” he said.
Having initially sought to support one member of their group, the intermediary was urged by Thapar to recruit additional candidates, leading to the arrival of more women, including Harjit Kaur and a second Sandeep Kaur. Each woman claims to have been promised full-time work at a rate of $29.70 an hour.
Now in financial distress, the women are unable to support their families and are facing pressure from the immigration authorities regarding their visa status. They have approached immigration lawyer Haseeb Ashraf for assistance after receiving a notice stating that their employment had ceased.
Amid their challenges, the women contend that others in similar situations are too afraid to speak out. They are demanding that Thapar be held accountable for their unpaid wages. Meanwhile, Ashraf plans to file complaints with Immigration New Zealand and apply for Migrant Exploitation Protection Visas on their behalf.
Thapar has refuted the women’s claims, maintaining that he has not charged them for their jobs. He insists that the situation stems from their failure to contact him about work. Despite his denials, Verma has provided evidence of her attempts to work, including photos and messages regarding her employment.
As the case unfolds, community leader Prithi Pal Singh emphasises the importance of support for these women, urging New Zealand to offer assistance to those who have sacrificed so much to start anew in the country. “They are in such a bad situation, they don't know what to do. We don’t want them to go back home and say this is how it is in New Zealand,” he told Stuff.