India Prospective 2013

India Prospective 2013 (Photo credit: Asia Society)

 

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By Chaumtoli Huq

The recent arrest in New York of India‘s deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade for alleged immigration fraud has created an uproar and tension in India-US relations. Patriotic muscles are flexing in India, urging the government to reciprocate with similar indignities on American diplomats.

Reciprocity is a key principle of international law and the policy reason for affording diplomats immunity from local prosecution. It may seem that Delh ..Much has been said about Khobragade’s salary not good enough to pay Richard the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour ($8 from next year). But no one is entitled to a domestic worker. Indeed, many working mothers can’t afford a domestic worker. I sympathise with Khobragade on that point, but that does not justify her not paying her employee.

It is astonishing that diplomats — who know about these rules — would seek to subvert them by asking their worker to sign parallel contracts to avoid payin ..

Much has been said about Khobragade’s salary not good enough to pay Richard the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour ($8 from next year). But no one is entitled to a domestic worker. Indeed, many working mothers can’t afford a domestic worker. I sympathise with Khobragade on that point, but that does not justify her not paying her employee.

It is astonishing that diplomats — who know about these rules — would seek to subvert them by asking their worker to sign parallel contracts to avoid paying her the minimum wages. Because employers often coerce employees to give up their rights, under US law, employers cannot contract to violate the law. Those contracts are voided. It is irrelevant if the worker has signed the contract. If employers are permitted to sidestep labour laws, then workers will not have redress — so it is up to the pr ..

 

 

 

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