Live-in nanny and carer wins £77,000 after not being paid for months

A case of unpaid care

This case highlights the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers who often work long hours for low pay, unaware of their legal rights. The claimant, a 68-year-old Indonesian woman with limited English, worked as a live-in nanny and carer for Jonaid Hassan Shahid from September 2019. She cared for twins and his disabled father, initially receiving £300 per week – well below the national minimum wage. From June 2021, her wages stopped altogether, despite her repeated requests. She resigned in October 2021 when it became clear she would not be paid.

What the employer could have done differently

The employer, Mr Hassan, did not engage with the tribunal process until the night before the hearing, when he requested a postponement citing family stress. The tribunal rejected this, noting he had been aware of the hearing date for weeks. Had he responded earlier, he could have argued that the claimant was a 'family worker' exempt from minimum wage rules – but the tribunal found no evidence of a genuine family relationship. Paying at least the minimum wage, providing a written contract, and maintaining regular pay would have avoided the claim entirely.

Why this matters

The award of over £77,000 reflects the cumulative effect of multiple breaches: years of underpayment, months of unpaid work, and failure to provide holiday pay or written particulars. The case serves as a warning to employers of domestic staff that employment law protections apply regardless of the worker's immigration status or language skills. It also shows that tribunals will act decisively when employers ignore proceedings, awarding substantial sums based on the claimant's evidence alone.