UAE recalls ambassador who treated women ‘like slaves’

The United Arab Emirates has recalled its ambassador from Ireland who was found to have treated three domestic servants "like slaves".

The Filipina women, Myra Calderon, Laylanie Lapanga and Jennifer Vilaranda, took the case against the UAE ambassador, Khalid Nasser Rashed Lootah, and his wife, Mehra Metad Alghubaisi.

They were awarded €80,000 each by the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT). Their working conditions were described as "horrific".

The women employed at the home of the ambassador were forced to work 15 hours a day, seven days a week for €170 per month, the Employment Appeals Tribunal accepted.

Neither the ambassador nor his wife turned up for the hearings despite being notified on two occasions. They both claimed diplomatic immunity.

A statement from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case and “takes this matter seriously and accordingly has decided to recall him to Abu Dhabi while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigates the issue further, in line with existing procedures”.

The UAE decision has been welcomed by the Migrants Rights Alliance which helped the three women take their case.

Spokeswoman Aoife Murphy said the money awarded has still not been paid to the women involved.

She said it would help to restore the country’s good standing if the ambassador or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid the money owed to the women.

She described the ambassador’s behaviour as “completely unacceptable and horrific”, but warned that it was by no means the only case where foreign embassies have sought to exploit staff and claim diplomatic immunity afterwards.

She called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all embassy staff based in Ireland are treated according to the laws of this country.