Swedish Fast-Food Chain Chopchop Faces Investigation Over Labor Exploitation Allegations
The Chopchop fast-food chain in Sweden is under police investigation following allegations of labor exploitation involving unpaid wages, forced payments, and poor working conditions among guest workers.
- • Chopchop employs about 1,000 staff, mostly full-time, with many Chinese guest workers.
- • Workers report long hours, low or unpaid wages, and forced payments to secure jobs.
- • Many employees lack pay slips and live in company-owned housing, raising concerns over wage deductions.
- • Police are investigating multiple suspected cases of human exploitation within Chopchop.
Key details
Chopchop, a fast-food chain with over 40 locations along Swedish highways, is under police investigation amidst serious allegations of labor exploitation involving its predominantly full-time staff, many of whom are Chinese guest workers. According to a report by Aftonbladet based on an investigation by the newspaper Arbetet, workers have faced abusive conditions including unpaid wages, excessively long working hours, and forced advance payments.
Workers detailed experiences of 14-hour workdays for monthly salaries around 30,000 kronor, with some forced to pay a sum equivalent to one month's salary into a Chinese bank account upfront just to secure employment. Many employees reportedly lack pay slips and live in company-owned housing, raising concerns about whether housing costs are deducted from their wages or otherwise imposed. The presence of surveillance cameras in the kitchens adds to a stressful and controlling work environment.
The police are currently investigating multiple suspected cases of human exploitation within Chopchop, where several workers have reported receiving little to no pay. Despite Chopchop employing approximately 1,000 people, there appears to be ambiguity regarding how many staff members work with legal permits due to incomplete statistics from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).
This scandal highlights significant labor rights issues within Sweden’s fast-food sector, drawing attention to possible violations of employment laws and human exploitation. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities aim to clarify the extent of the abuses and ensure legal protections for the affected workers.
As of today, October 21, 2025, Chopchop has not publicly commented on the investigation.