Lockdown has left many of Wagga's temporary visa holders without a livelihood or government support, but some employers have been quick to pick up the slack.
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One of them is the Indian Tavern Tandoori owner Rabina Singh, who has paid out of her own pocket to keep her staff in a job since most of them are not eligible for JobKeeper payments.
The department of immigration told her that she was allowed to even cut their wages, but Mrs Singh adamantly refused, saying that her team were "like a family" to her.
"They're all really good to me and I really like to help everyone who's poor," Mrs Singh said.
"I'm very proud as a restaurant owner that I didn't let any of my staff lose their work."
Not everyone was so fortunate; Regional Development Australia CEO Rachel Whiting said they had received a high number of calls for help from immigrant workers with nowhere else to turn.
"We've been answering a lot of inquiries by temporary visa holders, and we've been supporting them as much as we can because they are important members of our workforce and our communities," Ms Whiting said.
"We've got to praise the employers that are able to [keep them in a job], but of course not everyone is able to do that."
Mrs Singh said it was only possible thanks to a stalwart base of customers who continued ordering takeaway in a bid to support the restaurant through to the other side of lockdown.
Monday heralded the beginning of business-as-usual for the restaurant, which opened its doors for dine-in customers for the first time in nearly three months.
"I just love my customers, and I'm just not into Menulog and UberEats," Mrs Singh said.
"I like them to come with the baby, with the pram, rain hail or shine, so I can see them face-to-face."
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One of the loyal customers who will be returning is 83-year-old Bal Krishan, who had been eating at that restaurant nearly every week for the last 30 years.
He said he was looking forward to getting back to eating out with friends, many of whom he had not gotten the chance to see in many months.
Another returning customer is deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, whose family have long been fans of the Tavern Tandoori.
"I particularly enjoy the butter chicken and their special sweet naan bread with coconut and sultanas when I get the chance to dine there," Mr McCormack said.
"I am heartened to see firsthand and hear of the Wagga Wagga community getting behind their local small businesses during restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, in turn, saving local jobs."