Bubble tea shop where worker was allegedly assaulted accused of wage theft

A bubble tea shop worker who was filmed in a violent altercation with a customer in Adelaide has now claimed she and a co-worker are the victims of wage theft.

The 20-year-old woman was filmed being kicked to the ground by a man in the Fun Tea store on Gouger Street last Friday night.

A 39-year-old man has been charged over the incident, which Fun Tea has said was unrelated to any wage dispute.

READ MORE: Man charged with assault over bubble tea shop brawl

But dozens rallied outside the tea store today, after the 20-year-old woman said she and her 22-year-old co-worker had been underpaid for months.

The two international students claimed they had been working at Fun Tea for almost half a year, but were paid between $10 and $12 an hour – less than half the minimum legal rate.

"Workers should feel safe and respected in their workplace at all times, and that includes being paid the correct wage," Edward Satchell of the Shop Workers Union.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has confirmed it is conducting its own investigation, and wants to hear from any workers with concerns.

"There have been studies that show as many as one in five people in the general Australian population have been underpaid, so you can expect those figures to be even higher for workers who are in vulnerable positions," SA Education Activism Network organiser Tom Gilchrist said.

Another rally is being organised for Chinatown on Saturday.

Fun Tea has not commented on the underpayment claims.