A complex and contentious employment dispute is shaking the Tel Aviv restaurant industry after Chinese chef Mu An Zhenyu, who worked at the "Wong" restaurant, filed a major lawsuit at the Bat Yam Regional Labor Court. According to a report by Walla, the chef is seeking approximately 3.81 million NIS in damages from owners Inbar Zaruk and Eve Gabriel, as well as six companies within the "Ze Sushi" group that operate the restaurants.
The lawsuit details a series of serious allegations regarding the alleged exploitation of the chef, who arrived in Israel in May 2019 under an "expert ethnic chef" status. According to the statement of claim, filed by Adv. Reuven Milman, Zhenyu's employment terms involved 16 to 17-hour workdays for 25 days a month, without receiving pay stubs throughout his employment. The plaintiff alleges that despite being entitled to a high monthly salary consistent with his special status, he received only partial pay in cash, taking advantage of language barriers and his lack of familiarity with Israeli law. The overtime claim alone is estimated at over 2.2 million NIS, alongside demands for pension contributions, severance pay, recuperation pay, and unpaid vacation days.
The affair reached a breaking point in August 2024, when the chef was fired via a brief WhatsApp message without a proper pre-termination hearing. The lawsuit requests that the court pierce the corporate veil and hold the owners personally liable for the requested compensation.
Conversely, the owners vehemently deny the allegations. Counsel for Inbar Zaruk, Adv. Amit Gross, stated that the lawsuit is a meritless claim intended to exert improper pressure after previous settlement demands were rejected. According to the defendants, the employee received his full salary and did not complain at the time. Furthermore, the owners' response clarified that the employee was in Israel without legal authorization, and noted that the restaurant was recently closed and the company is currently in insolvency proceedings. The legal proceedings are expected to focus on proving actual employment hours, the worker's legal status, and the complex defense claims in light of the companies' financial state.