Crowd gathers outside Fun Tea in Chinatown for the second time this week following an assault over alleged wage theft

A crowd gathered in the city for the second time this week after an assault on a woman at a Gouger St store that was allegedly sparked by claims of wage theft.

A crowd has braved the wet weather to protest for the second time this week in Chinatown, following a violent assault on a worker sparked by alleged wage theft.

About 100 people gathered near Star Dumplings at 11am led by Fair Go South Australia and the SA Labour Information Hub, two organisations formed by international students to inform other people of their rights in the workforce.

It was the second protest against wage theft and violence against workers in a week and followed the publication online of a shocking video, in which a female worker was assaulted at Fun Tea bubble tea store on Gouger St.

The argument in the video was allegedly sparked by wage theft.

A 20-year-old Rose Park woman was treated by paramedics at the scene and a 39-year-old Glen Osmond man was subsequently arrested.

The incident sparked uproar on social media and quickly spread on several platforms.

funtea wage theft protest. chinatown adelaide

The assault victim claimed that moments before she was struck, she was inquiring about unpaid ages, through a statement from industrial rights advocacy group Working Women’s Centre SA, which is representing the woman, and another female who alleges she is also a victim of wage theft.

In a statement posted in the window of the business, Fun Tea declined the argument was about pay.

State Labor Industrial Relations spokesman Kyam Maher, who was at today’s rally, said he wanted to see “better protection for vulnerable workers”.

“What we’ve seen in the last week, the footage I think has shocked everybody, and that’s exactly why we need better protection for vulnerable workers in South Australia,” Mr Maher said.

Representatives from the state construction union – the CFMEU, and SA Unions also attended in support.

Marden woman, Andy, who did not wish to provide her surnam, said she experienced wage theft as an international student at a Chinese restaurant she did not name.

At age 20, she said was receiving $11 an hour.

“I needed the money to pay to live here, because my parents already paid for the education fees,” Andy said.

“I asked the boss to raise my wage but my boss refused that; he said in other Chinese restaurants pay … $9 or $10, so $11 is good pay.”

Eventually she recovered her money owning and penalty rates through a claim to the employment tribunal.

Jackie Cheng formed the SA Labour Information Hub after he experienced wage theft when he arrived in Adelaide four years ago.

He said the minimum wage was $24 dollars an hour, but he was paid just $12 an hour.

He said since forming his organisation, he has discover about 150 businesses in Adelaide who allegedly underpay their workers.

A current bill before federal parliament by Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter is seeking to enforce a criminal penalty for those who deliberately underpay workers, penalised by jail time of up to four years, and fines of up to $5.5 million.

Mr Porter said the new reforms would include significant new protections against exploitation for all Australian workers, including migrants.