“Diplomatic” agreement following indictment for domestic worker abuse

The Indian diplomat, Devyani Khobrogade, accused of visa fraud and violation of the legal rights of her housekeeper, was finally expelled from the US on January 10,and a US diplomat was expelled from India in a last-minute deal to avoid the court hearings scheduled for Khobrogade in New York this week.

Now the housekeeper, Sangeeta Richard, and her husband who joined her in the US, face retaliatory actions from the Indian authorities.

AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, has declared that “The labor movement will continue to stand with Sangeeta (…). The AFL-CIO will work to ensure the US government applies the full range of protections for domestic workers required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and urges the Department of State to closely scrutinize the officials who utilize the A-3 visa program. The Department should also consider taking action against governments that routinely misuse the program, like India. The fight for justice is far from over, but this prominent indictment should send a message to other exploitative employers, regardless of their rank or status, that these abuses will not be ignored”.

At this stage we thank the more than five thousand persons who participated in the urgent action. Your immediate support has been important not only for Sangeeta but for the many thousands of domestic workers who are suffering from abusive treatment by their employers.

As Trumka indicated the fight for justice is far from over, and we count on your solidarity in the struggles ahead.