Wong Restaurant Chef Sues for Nearly 3.8 Million Shekels Over Unpaid Wages and Poor Conditions
Wong, a well-known Vietnamese restaurant in Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard, operated for over a decade before closing and relocating to the Midtown complex. The restaurant, opened in 2012 by the owners of the Ze Sushi group, was recognized as the city's first Vietnamese eatery, serving dishes like pho and steamed buns. However, behind the culinary acclaim, chef If An Zhenyu, who came from China to work there, alleges severe labor abuses.
According to a lawsuit filed by lawyer Reuven Milman at the Bat Yam Regional Labor Court, If An Zhenyu worked 16 to 17 hours daily for five years and four months without receiving proper pay, overtime compensation, social benefits, or even a single payslip during his 64 months of employment. He claims he was exploited due to his status as a foreign worker with limited Hebrew and English skills. The chef arrived in Israel in May 2019 under a work visa for an ethnic expert chef, with employers promising double the average national salary, approximately 22,000 shekels monthly.
The lawsuit demands about 3.8 million shekels from the restaurant owners and affiliated companies, including Ze Sushi and Ze Sushi Tel Aviv. The largest claim, over 2.2 million shekels, is for unpaid overtime, calculated at 16 hours a day, 25 days a month, over 64 months. Additional claims include unpaid severance (546,000 shekels), vacation pay (147,000 shekels), holiday pay (101,000 shekels), and other labor rights violations. The chef also alleges he was dismissed via a humiliating WhatsApp message on August 26, 2024, without a hearing or prior notice, seeking 179,200 shekels for this.
The defendants, represented by attorney Amit Gross, categorically deny the allegations, calling the lawsuit baseless and contradictory to evidence they possess. They accuse the chef of overstaying his visa and using the legal process to extend his stay in Israel. The defendants emphasize that the restaurant has already closed amid insolvency proceedings and criticize the timing of the lawsuit's publicity. They vow to present their evidence in court and reserve all legal rights regarding the public accusations.
The case remains pending in the labor court, with the chef seeking personal liability for the company owners and legal costs. This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of foreign workers in Israel's culinary sector and the challenges they face in enforcing labor rights.
