“Sacked on leave: Migrant worker shocked, stuck offshore”

A migrant worker who was on annual leave visiting his family lost his job when his employer told him she decided to sell the business.

Ankit Singh Rawat, 33, was enjoying time away with family in India when he received an email from his boss telling him his job was gone.

Rawat, who worked as a full-time cook with Auckland restaurant Prince of India for over a year, said his employment was terminated without any consultation.

“My boss said they don’t need cooks now but then I found out the restaurant was still up and running and the other staff are still working there.”

He had left New Zealand on December 29, 2024 and within three weeks, his employer sent him an email terminating his employment.

In the email seen by Stuff, Rawat’s boss Swati Khatri said she decided to sell the business and had buyers.

The email from Khatri gave him four weeks notice, explaining cooks were no longer needed. Khatri agreed she did not know about the other elements of his employment contract so did not meet with Rawat nor give him any information about the proposal or an opportunity to give feedback before terminating him…

But restaurant director Khatri refutes Rawat’s claims…