Hinduja Family Worth $47 Billion Branded ‘Selfish’ Over Paying Indian Staff Rs 700 for 18-Hour Workdays

The Hinduja family, one of the UK’s wealthiest families, has been convicted by a Swiss court for exploiting their domestic staff at their luxury villa in Geneva. Four family members, including Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal, along with their son Ajay and daughter-in-law Namrata, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to four-and-a-half years.

The court described the family’s actions as “selfish,” revealing that the household staff, brought in from India, were subjected to exhausting 18-hour workdays for a meager daily wage of just 7 Swiss francs (approximately Rs 660 or $8)—a fraction of Switzerland’s legal minimum wage. According to prosecutors, the staff were paid less than what the family spent annually on their pet dog.

In addition to the low wages, the court heard that the employees' passports were confiscated, and they were seldom allowed to leave the premises of the opulent Cologny neighborhood residence. The family was also found guilty of illegal employment, although they were acquitted of the more serious charge of human trafficking.

Despite previously settling financially with the complainants out of court, the Swiss authorities continued with the case due to the severity of the allegations. Prakash and Kamal Hinduja did not attend the trial citing health concerns, while Ajay and Namrata were absent during the final verdict announcement.

The Hinduja family, whose global business empire spans across 38 countries in sectors like energy, banking, and healthcare, is estimated to be worth $47 billion. They have strongly denied the charges, claiming that the employees were treated well and had freedom of movement.

In response to the judgment, the family expressed shock and disappointment, stating that they have filed an appeal, which renders the current verdict non-binding until the higher court reviews the case.