OVERSEAS students are getting paid as little as $5 an hour to wait on tables in Chinatown - yet they refuse to complain because they are desperate for the work.

Chinese Students Association of SA ex-president Jackie Yang says about 40 per cent of Chinatown's restaurant employees are international students, most of whom are getting paid half the award wage of $15 for workers aged above 20.

Mr Yang says the language barrier and strong competition for part-time jobs means students have no option but to take the work, which is usually cash in hand.

"In some restaurants, they get trained for a month on $5 then they might get $8 after that," he said.

"Nobody ever gets above $10. Everyone knows the rate is $8 but they don't care because they just want a job.

"It's a big problem in Chinatown."

Mr Yang said most employees were too scared to complain for fear of losing even their meagre wages.

"Some people do mention it but their boss will say'later, later', which could be another year.

"Students are also worried about their English so they just go to Chinatown because they think their English is not good enough to work in other shops."

Mr Yang said there should be more organisations to help international students secure part-time jobs while they were studying.

He also called for students to be better educated about their working rights before coming to Australia.

Chinatown Adelaide president Cathy Chong said that while underpaying student workers had been a "long-standing problem", it was "getting better".

"International students only work when they need pocket money and they don't work when they have exams, so restaurants don't rely on them," she said. "There will always be occasions when students will be dishwashers to get cash in hand and a free meal but it's certainly better than my time as a student."

Education Adelaide chief executive Denise Von Wald declined to comment, instead directing questions to Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Jack Snelling.

Mr Snelling said the State Government provided a confidential information and advocacy service, the Office of the Training Advocate, to help international students deal with any questions or concerns regarding issues such as the quality of their courses, visa requirements, employment and accommodation.

Employee Ombudsman Stephen Brennan was also "very aware" of the issue but said most students were unaware of their rights.