Diplomats' exploitation of domestic workers a 'plague,' activists say

By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC News

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Arrest of Indian diplomat 'an isolated episode'

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The arrest of an Indian diplomat who allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to import a babysitter at an illegal wage to the United States has sparked an unusual spat between the two countries. But advocates for immigrant domestic workers say the accusations underlying the case are nothing new: The exploitation and trafficking of domestic workers by foreign officials on merican soil is all too common. !Unfortunately" this particular visa program is plagued with this kind of problem"! said

Tiffany #illiams" campaign coordinator for the $ational %omestic #orkers lliance. &ne group she works with" Break the 'hain" has assisted ()* workers since +,,- who lodged complaints that they were grossly underpaid" abused or essentially held captive by consular or #orld Bank staffers" mainly in $ew .ork and #ashington. nd the %amayan /igrant #orkers ssociation" a small $ew .ork0based non0profit for 1ilipinos" has handled a do2en similar cases since (**3" often helping exploited women escape and seek permission to legally stay in the U.S. The U.S. government itself has acknowledged the concern. (**4 report by the 5overnment ccountability &ffice said it had identified 6( household workers with 0 7 or 50) visas who alleged they were abused by foreign diplomats in the previous eight years. !But the total number is likely higher"! the report said. The feds have been cracking down. 1or example" in /ay" 8omeland Security rescued two 1ilipinas from a Saudi diplomatic compound in 9irginia : although diplomatic immunity can thwart prosecution. In the latest case" %eputy 'onsul 5eneral %evyani ;hobragade was charged by the /anhattan U.S. ttorney with visa fraud" essentially lying to the State %epartment about the terms under which she sponsored a visa for a woman in India to come work as nanny and housekeeper in $ew .ork. criminal complaint says ;hobragade told the U.S. <mbassy in India the woman would be paid =6")** a month" but then had her sign a secret contract to pay her only =7.7+ an hour : in violation of the rules that re>uire visa holders be paid minimum wage. In addition" prosecutors say" the woman complained ;hobragade paid her even less than =7.7+" verbally abused her" took her passport away and told her she had no choice but to continue working under those conditions. s a consular employee" ;hobragade had immunity only for acts involving official business" not ordinary crimes" and she was arrested last Thursday" strip0searched and locked in a cell before posting =()*"*** bail. Indian officials have slammed her treatment as !despicable and barbaric! and blocked perks such as cheap alcoholand food imports at the U.S. <mbassy in a dispute that has reached the #hite 8ouse. $ewspapers in India have >uoted officials as saying the U.S. rules are unreasonable" given that the country?s diplomats don?t make merican0level wages and the domestics? illegally low pay would be considered a windfall at home. !#hich Indian would pay a help 3")** rupees @=+**A a day"! Shakti Sinha" a

government worker who has been posted overseas" commented in the Times of India. Beacting to the overseas backlash" /anhattan federal prosecutor Creet Bharara late #ednesday put out a statement enumerating ;hobragade?s alleged misdeeds and saying" !this officeDs sole motivation in this case" as in all cases" is to uphold the rule of law" protect victims" and hold accountable anyone who breaks the law E no matter what their societal status and no matter how powerful" rich or connected they are.! But while ;hobragade?s case focuses on the paperwork and wage issue" immigrant rights activists say the plight of diplomatic household staff doesn?t stop at paltry paychecks. %amayan?s campaign coordinator" Feah &bias" cites the story of %aedema Bamos" who she said was making the e>uivalent of 3, cents an hour while working for a ;uwaiti diplomat in $ew .ork 'ity. !She wasn?t allowed to leave the house unless she was taking the kids to and from school" and then a driver would go with her"! &bias said. !She was working +3 to +4 hours a day" constantly on call. She would get intruded on in the bathroom to roll the employer?s cigarettes for him. She slept with the children in their room. !There was really no rest for her.? Bamos" who went public last year" was granted a visa as a trafficking survivor and settled out of court with her ex0employer" &bias said. In (*+(" a /anhattan Gudge ordered a diplomatic couple to pay =+.) million to a young Indian woman who complained that they didn?t pay her and threatened to beat and rape her if she tried to flee. The workers are so vulnerable because the diplomats have control over their visas and they fear that if they >uit" they will be undocumented" advocates say. It?s not unheard of for an employer to confiscate a worker?s passport. In addition" consular officials often have even more power back home" and some workers fear their families could suffer if they try to leave. !#eDve actually had to do rescues"! #illiams said. !#e?ve had cases where a worker has been able to pass a note over the fence to a neighbor but is afraid to call the police. In that case" we take a rental car and stand outside and she pretends she is taking the trash out and Gumps into the car.! Belated:
India blocks cheap boo2e for US diplomats after envoy?s arrest and strip0search in

$.' rrest" search of female diplomat in $.' ?despicable and barbaric"? India official

says Saudi princess accused of enslaving maids in 'alifornia home