Former UAE ambassador pays compensation to domestic workers

The former United Arab Emirates ambassador who was accused of treating three of his domestic staff like “slaves” has paid them compensation for their ordeal.

The three women, Myra Calderon, Laylanie Laporga and Jennifer Villaranda, were each awarded €80,000 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal after enduring "horrific" working conditions at Khalid Nasser Rashid Lootah's home.

Mr Lootah, who was recalled to the UAE after revelations of the abuse, was alleged to have treated the women like slaves. At one stage he "physically hit" one of three young women in his employment when he lost his temper because she could not get his son to eat his dinner, a report from the tribunal said.

‘Violent and degrading’

The report concluded that the women were “severely underpaid, worked hours way in excess of the statutory limits, in an environment that was at times said to be abusive, violent and degrading, and most certainly lacked dignity and respect for the employees. They received little or no breaks, no leave, annual or otherwise, no bank holiday entitlements.”

Mr Lootah cited diplomatic immunity for his decision not to attend the tribunal. However, his government stated that they took the "matter seriously, and accordingly" decided to recall him to Abu Dhabi.

A spokeswoman for the Migrants Rights Centre, which took up the case of behalf of the women involved, said all issues relating to the case had been resolved "to the satisfaction of all parties involved".

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan welcomed the settlement. He said the Government remained "strongly committed to the protection of domestic workers in Ireland". Diplomatic staff who employ domestic workers are expected to respect Irish law and apply good employment practice, he said.