The Service Union United (PAM) have asked police in the northern city of Oulu to investigate suspected job discrimination against Bangladeshi chef who worked at the city’s New Bombay restaurant.
According to the union, the young man was recruited from Bangladesh in 2012 with promises of a good salary. However his wages were not enough to live on and his work days lasted 10-17 hours. PAM estimates that the man is due 80,000-100,000 euros in back pay for a period of two years.
According to a report published in PAM’s online magazine on Friday, the man’s employment ended last autumn amid a dispute. The restaurant’s manager is suspected of beating him after a string of other abusive incidents.
The magazine quotes Detective Inspector Petri Savela of the Oulu Police as saying that the investigation into the suspected job discrimination is in its early stages. He predicted that the probe will take months.
The New Bombay chain also has restaurants in three other northern Finnish towns – Rovaniemi, Kemi and Tornio – as well as a newly-opened eatery in the west-coast city of Pori.