Unite Union claims fast food company Restaurant Brands is refusing to re-employ an Auckland Pizza Hut manager because his work visa was renewed by immigration officials two days late.

The union said in a statement today that a delay in getting Amit Sharma's visa approved was caused by Immigration NZ having to ask the company to resend its sponsorship forms, because the ones they'd sent to support his application were no longer valid.

Sharma had worked for the company for four years.
    
The union's national director Mike Treen said Sharma may be kicked out of the country if Restaurant Brands don't come to the rescue by Friday.

"The company's attitude is simply inhuman," he said.

"Here we have someone who has given the company four years service and he is tossed aside like so much garbage because they can't be bothered renewing their sponsorship.

"The company told us they have no positions for an assistant manager in any of their dozens of stores. We don't accept that argument. In fact his manager at the Birkenhead store told me that he has been without an assistant since Amit was terminated and he wants Amit back in his store."

Treen said the only "just and humane" thing to do was for Restaurant Brands to find a job for Sharma.

Restaurant Brands released a statement through their PR company.

"It is not appropriate for the company to discuss an individual's immigration status through the media. The company employs people who have a valid work visa and does not sponsor migrant workers.

"It is the individual's responsibility to ensure they submit the correct forms and details plus acquire and retain the appropriate visas."

 

- © Fairfax NZ News