A Sri Lankan diplomat has been ordered by a court to pay more than half a million Australian dollars to her former housekeeper in back wages during her stay in Canberra allegedly under conditions similar to modern slavery.
Himalee Arunatilaka, who served as the former deputy high commissioner of Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2018, paid Priyanka Danaratna just three per cent of the minimum wage in Australia, according to the Federal Court.
Ms Arunatilaka paid Ms Danaratna £5,805 (AUD$11,212) during her three years of work, David Hillard, the domestic worker’s lawyer said. The national minimum wage for a 38-hour week is £340.12 (AUD $656.90).
“She worked seven days a week for three years, and she had two days off in that entire time – and she did that because she burned her hand while preparing some food,” Mr Hillard, a pro bono partner at the law firm Clayton Utz, said.
Ms Danaratna filed a civil case against her employer under the Fair Work Act after she fled Ms Arunatilaka’s residence.
The Federal Court on Thursday found that Ms Arunatilaka breached the Fair Work Act and was ordered to pay £193,642 (AUD$374,000) in unpaid wages and a further £87,501.44 (AUD$169,000) in interest, bringing the total amount owed to more than £281,143 (AUD$543,000).
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Fucking piece of shit human being. Should have had to pay at LEAST the double!
A fine that is not significantly punitive enough to deter future perpetrators is nothing more than a cost of doing business — it’s tacit approval for future criminals to commit the same crimes. All they have to do is factor in the justice system potentially taking a cut… So in a way, this is the justice system engaging in racketeering.
I agree. Let’s do this correctly; % of your income, which doubles for each violation.
This fine isn’t even punitive. It’s just the wages owed plus interest, which is the same as if they’d paid the wages properly the first time.
Diplomats and Judges. Name a more iconic duo in exploiting their “lessers”.
This is literally about a judge fining the diplomat half a million, though?? Like isn’t this literally the exact opposite of that
This is very generalized. Did you know there are thousands of diplomats? Most of them are just regular old civil servants, engineers, etc.
First thought in my mind after looking at thumbnail: “Not another Indian🤦♂️. What’s wrong with my countrymen”.
After reading: “Is all of South Asia like this?”
Don’t worry, I’m sure plenty more people around the globe would jump at the opportunity to do the same thing! 😄
The Sri Lankan foreign ministry came to Ms Arunatilaka’s defence and said she had followed government-approved rates in paying the wages. “The allowance approved by the ministry as the salary of the employee has been paid to her,” a ministry statement said.
“The ministry is satisfied that the said salary was paid to the domestic assistant by the employer as mutually agreed.”
That’s not at all completely fucked up or anything.
So this is how Sri Lanka treats all domestic employees. Awesome.
