A Swiss court has recently handed down prison sentences to four members of the UK’s wealthiest family for exploiting their servants. In a case that has stunned many, the Hindujas – Prakash and Kamal, along with son Ajay and his wife Namrata – were found guilty of usury and illegal employment. Despite being cleared of human trafficking charges, the family’s workers from India claimed they were paid a mere £7 ($8) for grueling 18-hour work days, a fraction of what Swiss law requires. The Hindujas, whose fortune is estimated at £37bn, allegedly restricted the workers’ movements within their Geneva home, leading to accusations that they spent more on their dog than on their staff.
The Geneva prosecutor has demanded the immediate detention of the Hindujas, although the elder couple has cited health issues for their absence in court. This high-profile case has once again highlighted the darker side of Geneva’s elite circles, where exploitation and mistreatment of domestic workers have come to the fore. Not long ago, Filipino workers in another Geneva household accused the owners of withholding wages for years.
The Hinduja family’s business empire spans oil, gas, and banking, with assets including the prestigious Raffles hotel in London. While the Hindujas have vowed to appeal the court’s decision, the repercussions of this verdict go beyond the immediate implications for the family. It serves as a grim reminder of the systemic inequalities and abuses that persist in wealthy enclaves around the world, shedding light on the stark contrasts between opulence and exploitation in the modern era.
