A diplomat in the UK is to face court action for allegedly subjecting a domestic worker to modern slavery in a landmark court ruling. Supreme Court rules diplomats who profit by exploiting their workers in conditions of modern slavery can no longer rely on diplomatic immunity. In effect, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that diplomats cannot hide behind immunity to exploit workers, in a victory for campaigners against modern slavery.
In a world first, the Supreme Court ruled that diplomats who profit by exploiting their workers in conditions of modern slavery can no longer rely on diplomatic immunity to block workers from claiming
The court found a Saudi diplomat accused of exploiting a Filipina domestic worker in London did not have immunity in relation to the allegation.The decision paves the way for the woman to seek compensation. Lawyers said it was the first ruling of its kind in the world.
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 say she was confined to the house at all times except to take out the rubbish, subjected to verbal abuse, and given only left-over food to eat when her employers were at home.
She alleges that she was made to work from 07:00 until around 23:30 every day of the week, with no days off or rest breaks, and that she was forced to wear a door-bell so her employers could summon her at any moment.
She alleges that after being brought to the UK from Saudi Arabia in 2016, she was not paid anything for seven months. She says she was then paid about £1,800 for six months’ work in one lump sum – a fraction of her contractual entitlement – and after that not paid again.
Ms Wong managed to escape in 2018 and brought a claim against Mr Basfar in an employment tribunal.
He argued that Ms Wong’s claim should be struck out on the basis of his diplomatic protection.
Under article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution. But any commercial activity outside their professional work can be the subject of civil claims.
The UK Supreme Court’s justices have now ruled – by a majority of three to two – that if the facts of the case are proved, Mr Basfar does not have diplomatic immunity because his alleged exploitation of her amounted to commercial activity.
The court also noted: “There is evidence that exploitation of migrant domestic workers by foreign diplomats is a significant problem, so that the question raised on this appeal is one of general importance.”
Anti-slavery campaigners have welcomed the ruling. Ms Wong’s lawyer, Nusrat Uddin, told the BBC: “It’s justice at last for our client. And for all of the potential victims at risk of being exploited by diplomats. It allows recourse to take legal action and that’s extremely empowering.
“We hope that this will act as a deterrent and that other countries – for example the United States – will take the UK’s lead on this.”
