Maid sues employers over ‘slave’ lifestyle
A foreign maid who claims that a wealthy couple treated her like
a slave during underpaid, 16 hour shifts is suing her employers for
a reported £750,000, a tribunal heard this week.
Yoyoh Binti Salim Udin has launched a series of damaging claims
against Firas Chamsi-Pasha and his wife, Lina Chamsi-Pasha, through
the Central London Employment Tribunal after they allegedly
slapped, strip searched and banned the 39-year-old from leaving
their home.
The case has seen barbs from both sides over the validity of
Miss Udin's arguments, with Mr Pasha's legal team claiming the
Indonesian maid enjoyed luxury gifts from the couple and constantly
changed her story to reflect hardship.
She was allowed by her employers to return to Indonesia in 2007
for six weeks to oversee a new house and reunite with family,
returning to the couple of her own accord, the tribunal heard.
Miss Udin, who drank acid in an apparent suicide attempt after
being accused of theft by Mrs Chamsi-Pasha, denied she had
previously described the couple as "excellent employers".
Mrs Chamsi-Pasha claims the maid stole scarves, CDs and
jewellery, which were found in her cupboard. She said Miss Udin
admitted she was a thief to the couple's daughter Yasmin, but later
denied the confession.
Miss Udin is suing her former employers for race discrimination,
constructive dismissal, wages owed and compensation over her rights
in relation to working time since she started her job in 2004.
If successful, her employers' legal team claim the award could
"be worth three-quarters of a million pounds".
The case continues.