The federal court in Australia has ordered former Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Navdeep Suri, to pay a penalty of $97,200 to his ex-domestic help, Seema Shergill, for paying her less than $10 a day during her employment at his residence between April 2015 and May 2016.
According to ABC News, Shergill worked seven days a week for 17.5 hours a day for over a year, performing tasks such as cleaning, cooking, gardening, and walking Suri's dog. Despite her extensive work hours, she was paid only around $3,400, which was transferred to an Indian bank account she couldn't access while in Australia.
Justice Elizabeth Raper of the federal court deemed Suri's actions as egregious and exploitative, describing the working conditions as resembling "slave-like conditions." The court found Suri guilty of nine contraventions of the Fair Work Act and imposed the maximum penalty possible.
Suri has been ordered to pay the penalty within 60 days, and Justice Raper noted his lack of cooperation and remorse throughout the proceedings.
Seema Shergill's pro bono lawyer, David Hillard, commended her bravery in pursuing the case and emphasized the need for legislative changes to ensure better protection for domestic workers in diplomatic residences.
However, India rejected the court's ruling, asserting that Australia had no jurisdiction to adjudicate on matters concerning India-based service staff of its high commission. India argued that Shergill's actions indicated a desire to permanently stay in Australia, and they had repeatedly requested Australian authorities to repatriate her to India since her departure in May 2016.
