📷 Image Credits: The Times of India
The billionaire Hinduja family has recently made headlines as four members were sentenced to jail for exploiting their domestic staff at their luxurious lakeside villa in Geneva. A Swiss criminal court handed down the verdict, with each family member receiving jail terms ranging from four to four and a half years. The charges included severe exploitation of vulnerable workers, such as seizing their passports, paying them in Indian rupees instead of Swiss francs, and providing meager health benefits.
The court cleared the family of the more serious charge of human trafficking, emphasizing that the staff were aware of the working conditions to some extent. The workers, mostly illiterate Indians, were forced to work excruciatingly long hours without proper compensation. The Hindujas prohibited them from leaving the villa, staying in substandard conditions, and creating a ‘climate of fear.’
The family’s business manager, Najib Ziazi, also received a sentence of 18 months suspended. Despite sentencing, the Hindujas plan to appeal the decision in court. The issue came to light during a trial opening last month, highlighting the serious labor exploitation carried out by the family.
The court shed light on the Hindujas’ vast wealth, seizing assets like diamonds and jewelry to cover potential legal fees. The prosecutors described how employees were paid meager wages, forced to work excessively long hours, and lacked basic health benefits. The exploitation also extended to withholding passports, confining workers, and paying them in a manner that restricted their access to funds.
With a net worth of around $20 billion, the Hinduja family leads an industrial conglomerate across various sectors. Their case has brought attention to the issue of labor exploitation and abuse of power, especially among wealthy individuals. The ruling has raised concerns about the treatment of domestic workers and the need for stringent enforcement of labor laws to protect vulnerable employees.
