Kuwait government doctor awarded £551,000 for race discrimination and harassment
An in-house doctor with 15 years' service was subjected to race discrimination and harassment by the Government of the State of Kuwait. The Central London Employment Tribunal awarded him £551,051 in damages for personal injury.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Case details
- #race-discrimination
- #harassment
- #state-immunity
- #personal-injury
- #fixed-term-contract
- #unfair-dismissal
Key facts
- The claimant was employed as an in-house doctor at the Kuwait Health Office from 7 July 2004 to 6 July 2019.
- The claimant's contract was with the Government of the State of Kuwait, not the Kuwait Health Office.
- The claimant's job functions involved access to confidential medical records of high-ranking Kuwaiti officials and royal family members.
- The claimant's duties were changed in 2017 to processing backdated letters of guarantee, and he was moved to a basement office.
- The claimant was dismissed on 6 July 2019 by non-renewal of his fixed-term contract.
- The tribunal found that the claimant suffered race discrimination and harassment, including being told he was 'not worthy to represent Kuwait'.
Timeline
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Employment started
Claimant began employment as an in-house doctor at the Kuwait Health Office under a fixed-term contract.
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Change of duties
Claimant's role was changed to processing backdated letters of guarantee, and he was moved to a basement office.
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Performance issues
Claimant's performance was criticised; he was spoken to about mistakes and complaints.
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Complaint from female colleague
A female colleague complained about the claimant's behaviour; he was warned to avoid contact.
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'Not worthy' comment
Dr Eid told the claimant he was not worthy to represent Kuwait.
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Overtime ban
Claimant was told he could no longer work overtime, except during Ramadan.
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Desk moved to corridor
Claimant's desk was moved to a corridor on the second floor; he was later moved into an office.
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Excessive BLOG quota
Claimant was instructed to complete 150 backdated letters of guarantee in one week, an unachievable target.
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Warning for failing BLOG quota
Claimant received a warning for not meeting the BLOG target.
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Dismissal notice
Claimant was handed a notice of termination, effective 6 July 2019.
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Employment ended
Claimant's fixed-term contract expired and he was dismissed.
The legal issue
The tribunal had to decide whether the claimant's employer was the Government of the State of Kuwait, whether state immunity applied to the claims, and whether the claimant suffered race discrimination and harassment.
The outcome
The tribunal found that the claimant, an in-house doctor employed by the Government of the State of Kuwait, had been subjected to race discrimination and harassment. The claims of unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal were barred by state immunity, but the personal injury claims for discrimination and harassment succeeded.
The key reasons were:
- The claimant's employer was the Government of the State of Kuwait, not the Kuwait Health Office.
- State immunity applied to most claims, but not to personal injury claims for discrimination and harassment.
- The claimant was awarded £551,051 in damages for injury to feelings and personal injury.
Lessons & takeaways
- State immunity can bar many employment claims against foreign governments, but personal injury claims for discrimination and harassment may still proceed.
- Employers should not change an employee's duties or impose unrealistic targets as a form of discrimination or harassment.
- Comments such as 'not worthy to represent' a country can be evidence of race discrimination.
- Fixed-term contract employees are still protected from discrimination and harassment during their employment.
What this case shows
This case highlights the complex interplay between state immunity and employment rights. The claimant, an in-house doctor with 15 years' service, was employed by the Government of the State of Kuwait to work at the Kuwait Health Office in London. After his role was changed in 2017 to processing backdated letters of guarantee, he was moved to a basement office, given an unachievable quota of 150 letters per week, and warned for failing to meet it. He was also told by a manager that he was 'not worthy to represent Kuwait'. The tribunal found these actions amounted to race discrimination and harassment.
What the employer could have done differently
The Government of the State of Kuwait could have avoided liability by not changing the claimant's duties in a discriminatory manner, by setting reasonable targets, and by refraining from making derogatory comments about his race. The employer also failed to properly address the claimant's grievances about his treatment.
Why this result matters
This case is a reminder that foreign governments are not immune from claims for personal injury arising from discrimination and harassment. Employees working for diplomatic missions should be aware that while some claims may be barred by state immunity, claims for injury to feelings and personal injury can still succeed. The substantial award of £551,051 reflects the seriousness of the discrimination and harassment suffered.
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