This is a great ruling in favor of protecting household workers. The more we all push to hire and employ people properly, the further the standards will reach in communities, societies, and globally.
THE UK Supreme Court has ruled that no diplomatic immunity should be given in modern slavery cases, according to a report.
Diplomats are normally protected from both criminal charges and civil cases in the countries where they are posted.
The top court held that a Saudi diplomat Khalid Basfar, accused of exploiting a Filipina domestic worker in London, did not have immunity in relation to the allegation, the BBCreported.
According to the report, the decision paves the way for the woman to seek compensation.
Basfar is a member of the diplomatic staff at Saudi Arabia’s embassy in London.
The case was brought by Josephine Wong, 30, who alleges she was forced to work for Khalid Basfar and his family in conditions of modern slavery.
Her lawyers said she was subjected to verbal abuse and was given only left-over food to eat when her employers were at home. They added that she was confined to the house at all times except to take out the rubbish.
She alleged that she was made to work from 7 am until around 11.30 pm every day of the week, with no days off or rest breaks. Wong told the court that she was forced to wear a doorbell so her employers could summon her at any moment.
The court heard that she was brought to the UK from Saudi Arabia in 2016, and not paid anything for seven months. Then she was paid about £1,800 in one lump sum – a fraction of her contractual entitlement – and after that not paid again.