In a shocking turn of events, four members of the UK’s richest family, the Hinduja family, are currently on trial in Switzerland. The allegations against them are severe, centering around human trafficking and the exploitation of their servants. The family, with an estimated worth of £37bn ($47bn), stands accused of spending more money on their dog’s care than on their human staff.
Allegations of Exploitation
The Hinduja family owns a luxurious villa in the affluent Cologny neighbourhood of Geneva. It is alleged that Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, along with their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, engaged in the practice of importing servants from India to manage their household and care for their children. The accusations are damning: the family is said to have confiscated their staff’s passports, paid them as little as $8 (£7) for gruelling 18-hour workdays, and restricted their freedom to leave the house.
Legal Proceedings and Financial Settlements
Despite reaching a financial settlement last week over the exploitation charges, the Hinduja family remains on trial for human trafficking, a grave criminal offence in Switzerland. The family has consistently denied these charges. This week, in a courtroom drama, one of Geneva’s most renowned prosecutors, Yves Bertossa, highlighted the disparity between the almost $10,000 a year allegedly spent on the family’s dog and the meagre daily wages paid to their servants.
Defence and Testimonies
The defence has not specifically denied the allegations of low wages but argues they must be seen in context, pointing out that the staff were also provided with accommodation and food. They also contested the accusations of long working hours, with one defence lawyer stating that activities such as watching a film with the Hinduja children should not be considered work. Notably, some former servants testified in favour of the Hindujas, describing the family as friendly and respectful towards their staff.
Serious Implications of Allegations
However, the most serious allegations involve the confiscation of passports and the restriction of movement, which could indeed be judged as human trafficking. Prosecutor Bertossa is calling for prison terms, as well as millions of dollars in compensation and legal fees for the affected staff.
A Pattern of Mistreatment
This case is not an isolated incident for Geneva, a city known for its concentration of international organisations and wealthy residents. In 2008, Hannibal Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was arrested in Geneva on charges of beating his servants. Although the case was later dropped, it led to a significant diplomatic conflict between Switzerland and Libya.
More recently, in 2023, four domestic workers from the Philippines filed a case against one of Geneva’s diplomatic missions to the United Nations, claiming they had not been paid for years. These cases highlight a troubling pattern of mistreatment and exploitation of domestic workers in Geneva, raising serious questions about the darker side of the city that prides itself on being the “city of peace.”
The ongoing trial of the Hinduja family is set to draw significant attention to these issues, potentially prompting a broader reassessment of how domestic workers are treated, not just in Geneva, but across Europe.
