The story of a Saudi Princess and her 5 maids
THE Los Angeles Times, NBC, CNN and other major news outlets report that on July 10, a woman identified as a Saudi princess, was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and keeping slaves in her home in Orange County. Meshael Alayban, 42, reported to be one of six wives married to a grandson of the king of Saudi Arabia, was booked in the Orange County jail.
The arrest resulted from a report by a domestic servant from Kenya who escaped from Alayban’s gated community home in Irvine and contacted the police. After searching Alayban’s residence, police discovered that four more workers were also being held there. The workers were reportedly all Filipinos.
The Saudi princess allegedly stole the maids’ passports and work contracts, and forced them to work long hours for less than $10 a day, said Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen. In the case of the Kenyan woman, she had signed a two-year contract stating she would be paid $1,600 a month.
She cooked, cleaned, and washed laundry for eight people. She worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week, but was paid only $220 a month. She could not leave because Alayban kept her passport and documents.
Alayban may be the first person to be prosecuted in Orange County under a new law that increased penalties for human-trafficking offenses. She is being held on a $5 million bail. She will have to wear a GPS monitoring unit and will not be allowed to leave Orange County without approval of the court.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Alayban’s attorney said there was no physical abuse, no physical restraint and that the complaints were about hours worked and wages paid.
In California, housekeepers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay. Household employees’ overtime pay will depend on their status as live-in or live-out. Live-in employees may work as much as 12 hours per day, but must have at least three duty-free hours during the 12-hour period. They must also have at least 12 consecutive off-duty hours during a 24-hour workday. If they work during their off-duty hours, overtime must be paid.
Live-out household employees’ overtime pay is computed like that of regular non-exempt employees in other occupations, i.e., time and a half for all hours worked in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week and double time for hours worked beyond 12.
Housekeepers who are paid a fixed salary without regard to long hours of work may have a claim for additional wages against their employers. Where there is coercion, fraud, or abuse of power forcing workers into involuntary servitude, a simple civil wage violation may constitute criminal conduct. The employer faces liability for monetary damages as well as possible imprisonment.
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C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully obtained significant results, including several million dollar recoveries for consumers against insurance companies and big business. He is a member of the Million Dollar-Advocates Forum—a prestigious group of trial lawyers whose membership is limited to those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, experience and excellence in advocacy. He has been featured in the cover of Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Verdicts and Settlements for his professional accomplishments and recipient of numerous awards from community and media organizations. His litigation practice concentrates in the following areas: serious personal injuries, wrongful death, insurance claims, unfair business practices, wage and hour (overtime) litigation. You can visit his website at www.joesayas law.com or contact his office by telephone at (818) 291-0088.