National court archive · 2026-04-02
Migrant chef paid €1.61 an hour for 90-hour weeks in case branded 'economic slavery'
At a glance
- Crime
- Not stated
- People
- Vasantkumar Barot, Sylwia Nowakowska, Brian Dalton
- Locations
- Dundalk, Drogheda, Newry, central Belfast, Dublin
- Court
- Workplace Relations Commission
- Outcome
- The total awarded to Mr Barot in the case was €79,213.72.
Summary
The Workplace Relations Commission directed Madhu Foods Limited, trading as Guru Indian Cuisine, to pay Vasantkumar Barot €79,213.72 after his employer entered no defence to his employment-rights complaints. Barot said he paid €15,000 for a work permit and worked more than 90 hours a week, with average hourly pay of €1.61 in 2024. Adjudicator Brian Dalton made awards for wage arrears and working-time breaches, and found that an inference of racial harassment had been raised and not rebutted.
Original reporting: courtsnewsireland.ie