India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – The billionaire Hinduja family, recognized as Britain’s wealthiest, has been accused of mistreating domestic staff at their Lake Geneva villa, according to allegations heard in a Swiss court.
The court was informed that the Hinduja family spent more on their pet dog than on one of their servants, who reportedly earned as little as £6.20 for grueling 18-hour workdays, seven days a week. A budget document titled “pets” revealed that the family allocated £7,641 annually for their dog.
Prosecutors highlighted the absence of specified working hours or days off in the staff contracts, arguing that employees were effectively at the family’s beck and call. The workers’ passports were confiscated, severely restricting their freedom, The Independent of UK reported.
In their defense, the Hinduja family’s lawyers stated that the staff were treated respectfully and provided with accommodation. “The salary can’t simply be reduced to what they were paid in cash,” argued Ajay Hinduja’s lawyer, noting that food and lodging were covered.
The family’s legal team further claimed that some employees voluntarily returned to work in Geneva multiple times, suggesting they were satisfied with their conditions compared to their situations in India, The Independent said.
Prosecutors have sought prison sentences for Ajay Hinduja and his wife, Namrata, along with an order for the family to pay 1 million Swiss francs in court costs and contribute 3.5 million francs to a compensation fund for the staff.
Ajay Hinduja testified that he was not well-informed about the staff’s working conditions as their recruitment was managed by the Hinduja Group in India. He added that informal payment practices had ceased and all hiring was now conducted locally through a third party.
