Court Sentences Woman for Human Exploitation, Husband Convicted of Aiding and Abetting
Gothenburg, Sweden – In a shocking case of human exploitation, a woman has been sentenced to a suspended sentence and 240 hours of community service for subjecting two Filipino nanny girls to appalling conditions. The woman’s husband, who owns a restaurant in West Sweden, has been acquitted of human exploitation but convicted of aiding and abetting, receiving a suspended sentence along with daily fines. Additionally, both individuals have been found guilty of crimes against the Aliens Act and the National Registration Act. The court has also ordered them to pay a total of SEK 215,000 in damages to the two victims.
The Gothenburg district court, while making the ruling, highlighted the unreasonable working hours and inadequate compensation the nannies received during their time with the family. It was noted that the pay was not in any reasonable proportion to the long hours of work they were subjected to. Moreover, aggravating circumstances were brought to light, such as the presence of a surveillance camera in one of the nanny’s bedrooms and the requirement for her to sleep with the family’s children at night.
During the trial, the woman expressed her feelings of being confined in a cage, highlighting the unbearable conditions she endured during her time with the couple.
The case gained attention due to its rarity. The other woman who was subjected to exploitation went to the police after only ten days of employment with the family. This marked the beginning of a unique legal battle. The Human Exploitation Act was introduced in 2018 to provide stronger protection for vulnerable individuals in the labor market. However, since its implementation, very few exploitation cases have made it to court, with only one person previously convicted under the act.
To secure a conviction, it is not sufficient for working conditions to be poor; the individual must have been coerced, deceived, or taken advantage of due to their vulnerable situation.
This case serves as a reminder to prioritize the rights and well-being of workers, particularly those in vulnerable positions. The court’s ruling sends a strong message against human exploitation and emphasizes the need for vigilance in preventing such abuses in the future.