The women filed suit in federal court in the District in January 2007, saying they had been subjected to "slaverylike conditions through physical and psychological abuse" by Maj. Waleed Al Saleh, an attache at the Embassy of Kuwait in D.C., and his wife, Maysaa Al Omar.
The parties agreed to a settlement this month. Attorneys involved in the case would not disclose the terms of the agreement, but said both sides were satisfied.
"It sends a message to other persons that may be involved in such actions," said Steven Watt, a senior staff lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the women. "It won't be condoned."
The women -- Kumari Sabbithi, Joaquina Quadros and Tina Fernandes -- cared for the couple's four children at their McLean home and did household tasks, but were only paid a fraction of their agreed wages, according to the lawsuit.
Al Saleh and Al Omar took their passports and forced them "to perform backbreaking work virtually every waking hour of the day," from 6:30 or 7:30 a.m. to between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The women often didn't have time to eat or go to the bathroom during the day, the lawsuit said, and they were forbidden from leaving except for occasional church services.
The lawsuit says Al Omar slapped Sabbithi and struck her with spoons, wooden boxes and frozen chicken packages.
Al Omar once became enraged over a meal's preparation, pulled Sabbithi's hair and threatened to "cut off" her tongue, according to the suit. Al Saleh then berated Sabbithi and shoved her to the floor; she hit her head on a table and lost consciousness.
Domestic servants abused by diplomats often have little recourse; the officials typically assert diplomatic immunity and leave the country.
Watt said naming the government in the lawsuit "brought the state of Kuwait to the table." and helped the parties reach a settlement.
"The government of Kuwait wanted this issue to go away," he said. "This is one way of doing it."
Neil Koslowe, an attorney for Kuwait, Al Saleh and Al Omar, said his clients admitted no wrongdoing but declined to comment on why the parties settled.
"The state of Kuwait is committed to complying with all State Department guidelines on diplomatic interactions with domestic workers," he said.
ebabay@washingtonexaminer.com
LWDLIK - The lawsuit makes interesting reading. Honestly people if you take a maid to the States and think you can pay her only KD 40 per month then you are asking for trouble and that's without any of the other allegations.
The parties agreed to a settlement this month. Attorneys involved in the case would not disclose the terms of the agreement, but said both sides were satisfied.
"It sends a message to other persons that may be involved in such actions," said Steven Watt, a senior staff lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the women. "It won't be condoned."
The women -- Kumari Sabbithi, Joaquina Quadros and Tina Fernandes -- cared for the couple's four children at their McLean home and did household tasks, but were only paid a fraction of their agreed wages, according to the lawsuit.
Al Saleh and Al Omar took their passports and forced them "to perform backbreaking work virtually every waking hour of the day," from 6:30 or 7:30 a.m. to between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The women often didn't have time to eat or go to the bathroom during the day, the lawsuit said, and they were forbidden from leaving except for occasional church services.
The lawsuit says Al Omar slapped Sabbithi and struck her with spoons, wooden boxes and frozen chicken packages.
Al Omar once became enraged over a meal's preparation, pulled Sabbithi's hair and threatened to "cut off" her tongue, according to the suit. Al Saleh then berated Sabbithi and shoved her to the floor; she hit her head on a table and lost consciousness.
Domestic servants abused by diplomats often have little recourse; the officials typically assert diplomatic immunity and leave the country.
Watt said naming the government in the lawsuit "brought the state of Kuwait to the table." and helped the parties reach a settlement.
"The government of Kuwait wanted this issue to go away," he said. "This is one way of doing it."
Neil Koslowe, an attorney for Kuwait, Al Saleh and Al Omar, said his clients admitted no wrongdoing but declined to comment on why the parties settled.
"The state of Kuwait is committed to complying with all State Department guidelines on diplomatic interactions with domestic workers," he said.
ebabay@washingtonexaminer.com
LWDLIK - The lawsuit makes interesting reading. Honestly people if you take a maid to the States and think you can pay her only KD 40 per month then you are asking for trouble and that's without any of the other allegations.
Many countries import domestic workers from abroad, usually from poorer countries, through recruitment agencies and brokers because their own nationals are no longer obliged or inclined to do domestic work.
ReplyDeleteDocumentary - "Nightmare in Dreamland" the documentary casts light on everyday life in the dazzling glitter and glamour of Dubai and reveals the two-faced brutality and the socially accepted abuse of power on which much of its domestic life is based.
To watch this documentary please visit - http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/4716