The owner of Vietnam Restaurant ehf., Vietnam Market ehf., Wok On and Vy-þrif ehf. was arrested in spring 2024 because of suspected human trafficking, money laundering and suspicion of organized crime. According statements from workers in the articles
- They were asked to pay a fee in cash every month to the owner
- They had to pay up to 8 million kronas to come to work in Iceland
- They were threatened with deportation by the owner in case they were contacting the unions or other organizations for help
- They were made to work for long hours and in different places than agreed on
- They were brought in on a specialist working visas and were given contracts as cooks, but were made to work in different places
- They were asked to work “black” (for cash payment)
- Wages were below the collective agreement
Sources published in March 2024:
- https://www.ruv.is/english/2024-03-06-dozens-are-suspected-victims-of-human-trafficking-406691
- https://heimildin.is/grein/21156/akall-um-hjalp-fra-starfsfolki-pho-vietnam-thad-er-ekki-komid-fram-vid-okkur-eins-og-manneskjur/
- https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2024-03-08-halftomir-veitingastadir-a-besta-stad-i-borginni-kveiktu-ahuga-406852
- https://heimildin.is/grein/21129/sodalegt-hotel-sem-eigandi-pho-vietnam-rekur-svo-margir-kakkalakkar/
- https://heimildin.is/grein/21148/Gridarleg-aukning-a-utgefnum-serfraedileyfum/
- https://www.visir.is/g/20242541021d
- https://heimildin.is/grein/21224/starfsemi-matvaelafyrirtaekja-stodvud-ef-oryggi-almennings-er-ognad/
- https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2024/03/13/abendingar_virtust_koma_innan_ur_fyrirtaekjunum/
Vietnam Market ehf. (kt: 590509-0860); Real owner: Davíð Viðarsson (company registry)
Vietnam Restaurant ehf. (kt: 460510-1390); Real owner: Davíð Viðarsson (company registry)
Vietnamese cuisine ehf. (kt: 541016-0900); Real owner: Davíð Viðarsson (company registry)
WOKON ehf. (kt: 480518-1440); Real owner: Davíð Viðarsson (company registry)
Vy-Þrif ehf. (kt: 421107-0410); Real owner: Davíð Viðarsson (company registry)