Former Hochi Mama cook Tiff Tan alleges horrible working conditions, underpayment

A migrant worker at a popular city restaurant claims she was left “scared and desperate” after being forced to work seven days a week for less than $3 an hour or face losing visa sponsorship.

Tiff Tan estimates she was underpaid about $400 a week while working at Hochi Mama. Picture: Norm Oorloff

A former worker at trendy city restaurant Hochi Mama claims she was forced to work seven days a week for less than $3 an hour.

Tiff Tan was on a student visa when she worked for Hochi Mama and Straight Outta Saigon co-owner Thai Ho from July 2015 to December 2015.

She said she only endured the conditions because she was “scared and desperate” and a promise of sponsorship for a more secure visa was held over her head if she stayed at Hochi Mama but this never happened.

“I had a lot of anxiety, I had to pay my rent, I needed money, if I didn’t go to work then I didn’t get anything,” Miss Tan said.

“I only had a half an hour break, I was tired, exhausted, I would go home and cry, my body was shaking,” she said.

Her claims come as the Fair Work Ombudsman investigates allegations staff at Hochi Mama and Straight Outta Saigon were underpaid and mistreated.

However, Mr Ho denies the allegations.

The union held a protest outside Straight Outta Saigon last month. Picture: Tony Gough

“I strongly deny outright that I have mistreated migrant employees, or that I lured them to work in substandard conditions under the false promise of sponsorship, or otherwise.”

In a lengthy statement to the Leader, Mr Ho said he would co-operate with the FWO investigation.

He also said he was “open and prepared” to resolve any issues former employees may have and that he found the allegation that he mistreated or underpaid migrant workers offensive.

“I find myself in an unfair position of having to have to defend serious allegations in circumstances where no particulars are given of the employee making the allegations,” Mr Ho said.

“Since the initial allegations were brought to our attention, I engaged with both our lawyers and accountants with a view of conducting a self-audit as to the payments made to employees over the years.

MORE CHAPEL ST VENUES RAIDED BY FAIR WORK

HANOI HANNAH BOSS SENTENCED FOR LEWD ACT ON WOMAN

FORGET MASTER CHEF THIS IS WHAT A KITCHEN JOB REALLY IS

“All we ask for is that we are afforded a fair go to address these matters.”

United Voice spokesman Ben Redford said Melbourne’s hospitality industry was “built on an underclass of exploited migrant workers”.

“All over the hospitality industry right now we are seeing migrant staff work side-by-side with local workers doing the same kind of work, but getting paid way less — it’s a racist double standard, and it’s absolutely disgusting,” he said.

“People who treat workers like this should be in jail.”

An FWO spokesman said it could not comment as it was “conducting inquiries into this matter”.

“We encourage any workers with concerns to directly contact us for assistance,” the spokesman said.

For assistance: www.fairwork.gov.au or 13 13 94.

An interpreter service is available by calling 13 14 50.

[e-mail]