WhatsApp messages trap kebab manager who targeted worker for illegal premium payments

Sunday, 7 June 2026

A kebab company liquidation has left a fast-food business facing a hefty bill after an employment tribunal found its managers orchestrated an illegal scheme to extract premium payments from a vulnerable worker.

The Employment Relations Authority last Tuesday ordered NZ-Kebabs Limited (NZKL), alongside managers Rupinder Kaur Bal and Gursahib Singh Dhillon, to contribute $12,500 toward the legal costs of former employee Rimple Rimple.

The decision follows a substantive ruling in March where the authority found Dhillon and Bal were personally involved in seeking a premium from Rimple in respect of her employment in New Zealand. Bal was identified as the key person who primarily orchestrated the premium payments, while Dhillon was linked to the scheme via WhatsApp communications.

In the initial March ruling, the authority ordered the business to pay Rimple more than $41,000 in lost wages, unpaid leave, public holiday arrears, and a $16,000 penalty.

Rimple subsequently brought a costs application after the parties failed to resolve the matter privately.

Authority member Simon Greening found that while the company was placed into liquidation on May 21, liability for the costs properly fell on the business because the investigation was initiated before the liquidation took place.

The authority increased the standard daily tariff by $1,000 after taking into account a valid settlement offer made by Rimple in January. The final orders made against the company were more favourable to Rimple than her original offer.

Greening rejected an argument from Dhillon that he had also made settlement offers, ruling they were invalid because he failed to explicitly state they were confidential and save as to costs.

A request by Rimple to make Dhillon and Bal jointly and severally liable for the costs was declined. Greening ruled that such an order would breach the authority’s principle of maintaining modest costs awards, opting instead to apportion the financial penalties based on individual blameworthiness.

NZKL was ordered to pay $6,500 toward Rimple’s legal costs, alongside $219.77 for printing expenses and a $71.55 filing fee.

Bal was ordered to pay $3,500, reflecting his primary role in orchestrating the illegal premium scheme. Dhillon, who managed the daily operations of the business, was ordered to pay $2,500.

All payments must be made within 28 days of the June 2 determination.