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Shocking Mistreatment: Worker Awarded €154K After Exploitative Recruitment Fees Revealed

Robert Schmidt
Robert Schmidt
"This is beyond shocking! How can they treat workers like this?"
Mei Lin
Mei Lin
"I can't believe he was forced to repay his wages! This needs to change!"
Alejandro Gómez
Alejandro Gómez
"The recruitment fee is absurd! How can that still be legal?"
Giovanni Rossi
Giovanni Rossi
"Glad he got compensated, but it shouldn't have come to this! #Justice"
Samuel Okafor
Samuel Okafor
"Wow, this is a wake-up call for workers everywhere! #StandUp"
John McGregor
John McGregor
"How is it that in 2023, people still face such exploitation? Unbelievable!"
Marcus Brown
Marcus Brown
"Just when you think it can't get worse for workers... #Injustice"
Dmitry Sokolov
Dmitry Sokolov
"Why isn’t this more widely reported? People need to know!"
Jean-Michel Dupont
Jean-Michel Dupont
"This feels like a scene from a dystopian movie! Who's watching out for the workers?"
Rajesh Patel
Rajesh Patel
"If you think this is bad, wait until you hear about the next case..."

2025-10-20T16:54:01Z


Imagine working tirelessly, clocking in up to 73 hours a week, only to find yourself left with a mere €60 after paying back most of your wages. This was the grim reality for Xiaofeng Gao, a Chinese national who bravely took a stand against an exploitative employment situation that ultimately led to him being awarded €154,828 in compensation.

In a gripping hearing held at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) back in April, Gao detailed his grueling work schedule, often spanning six to seven days each week. However, the iron grip of a hefty recruitment fee—over €30,000—left him financially shackled. This fee, which is against the rules of the Irish work permit scheme, meant that Gao was forced to “repay” nearly all of his earnings, a situation that is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.

The adjudication officer, Shay Henry, found in favor of Gao, citing violations of multiple labor laws, including the Payment of Wages Act and the Employment Equality Act. The final compensation package featured a breakdown that included €43,582.48 for underpayment of wages, €60,000 for discrimination, and €21,922.52 for violations against the National Minimum Wage legislation. Additionally, the tribunal flagged issues such as inadequate breaks, lack of holidays, and failure to pay appropriate premiums for Sunday and public holidays.

Gao's journey to Ireland in 2022 began with a promise—a job at Ming Gao's restaurant, which operates under the names Lam’s Asian Cuisine and Eskimo Pizza in Ballyjamesduff. The connection between their mothers paved the way, but the deal came with a heavy price tag: a €30,600 recruitment fee. This exorbitant charge would become a dark cloud over Gao’s dreams of a better life.

Initially, Gao was assured of a 39-hour workweek at €14.79 an hour and accommodation. Yet, he faced language barriers that left him struggling to comprehend his terms of employment. While Ming Gao’s wife, Xiuquin Wu, defended their business practices at the WRC hearing, arguing that Gao was treated well and took regular breaks, Gao painted a starkly different picture. He claimed he was coerced into repaying significant portions of his wages, including a shocking €10,000 payment to Ming Gao’s mother in China to settle what he described as debts linked to the recruitment fee.

Feeling intimidated and trapped—especially after Ming Gao allegedly withheld his passport—Gao hesitated to leave until August of last year, when he finally retrieved his passport thanks to the intervention of An Garda Síochána. In his ruling, Mr. Henry described the discrimination aspect of Gao's case as “very serious,” and his findings revealed a troubling narrative of exploitation.

In response to the verdict, Sylwia Nowakowska from the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) stressed the urgent need for reforms to protect vulnerable workers navigating the employment permit system. “Workers need clearer and proactive communication about their rights, especially in their own languages,” she emphasized. Currently, permit holders face a restrictive five-year period before being able to change jobs, a timeline MRCI is advocating to reduce to just two years. This change could empower workers to escape exploitative situations more easily.

Moreover, Nowakowska called for stronger penalties against employers who exploit their employees, including potential criminal charges and bans from applying for future permits. The case of Xiaofeng Gao is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and reform within labor systems, ensuring that no worker is left in the shadows of exploitation.

Profile Image Elena Petrova

Source of the news:   The Irish Times

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