COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s authorities has defended a prime diplomat ordered by an Australian court docket to pay over US$360,000 in again wages to her former housekeeper held in Canberra underneath “slavery-type circumstances”.
Its international ministry in Colombo mentioned Himalee Arunatilaka, at present Sri Lanka’s everlasting consultant to the United Nations in Geneva, together with the Worldwide Labour Group, had adopted government-approved charges in paying low wages.
Arunatilaka had beforehand been Colombo’s Deputy Excessive Commissioner in Canberra for 3 years, up till 2018.
The Federal Court docket of Australia on Thursday (Aug 15) discovered Arunatilaka had breached the Truthful Work Act and was not entitled to diplomatic immunity.
Australian media studies mentioned the court docket ordered Arunatilaka to pay greater than A$540,000 (US$360,000) in again wages and curiosity to Priyanka Danaratna.
“She labored seven days per week for 3 years, and she or he had two days off in that whole time – and she or he did that as a result of she burned her hand whereas getting ready some meals,” her lawyer David Hillard was quoted as saying.
She was not given unpaid breaks, not paid time beyond regulation or penalty charges, and was not paid commonly or issued payslips.
“It is an instance of how trendy slavery works,” he mentioned.
The court docket was advised that Danaratna was paid a complete of A$11,212 for 3 years of labor, whereas the nationwide minimal wage for a 38-hour week was A$656.90.
After working away from the diplomatic compound, Danaratna had sought refuge with the Salvation Military.
Nonetheless, Sri Lanka’s international ministry mentioned wages paid to the maid have been at charges authorized by Colombo.
“The allowance authorized by the ministry because the wage of the worker has been paid to her,” the ministry assertion mentioned.
“The ministry is happy that the mentioned wage was paid to the home assistant by the employer as mutually agreed.”
The assertion came visiting the weekend after criticism on social media and requires the federal government to answer the Australian court docket.
