Quite. There is a thread or two about how I took a former employer to court this year for non-payment of wages and won. I quite serious about the matter.
Of course, there will be violations of the law. There are always people who think they can get away with it, who think the rules don’t apply to them, and so forth. So yes, it does happen but there should be consequences for it.
They are still talking and looking for a solution. Khobragade is now officially transferred to the UN posting. The US is still being obstinate and pigheaded about retro immunity. There is a prior court case decided by an appeals court. This is the US face saving card. I hope they are smart enough to use it. Get out of this diplomatic mess and move forward.
Anyone know what this means? You get hired, they show you your desk and the coffee pot. Get to work. What do they mean by accredited?
You linked to an article describing the breadth of activity around immigration enforcement in this country. Thank you for making my point.
In case you had trouble understanding it, the quote you posted is in response to the claim that the Obama administration is the absolute bestest at prosecuting employee, which absolutely no one in this thread had made.
And even if the government were doing fuck all, which it isn’t, would that have any bearing on this case? No, no it wouldn’t. So why bring it up? Unless your true purpose is to secretly make supporters of the consular official and the Indian government look ridiculous by making irrelevant arguments. In which case I applaud your sneakiness.
Thank you.
Fewer folks will be interested in opting for the foreign service at entry level if the lure of making money via foreign postings decreases. However the foreign service will still get the number of officers it wants at entry level. Let me explain why.
India conducts an annual common civil service exam for recruitment at entry level to various services - the Indian Administrative Service, The Indian Foreign Service, The Indian Police Service, Audit and Accounts Service, Railway Services, Revenue Services, … about 1,000 candidates get selected each year to all of these services combined. The 1,000 candidates are ranked based on performance on the exam. Each service fixes the number of entrants it wants. Candidates give their preference orders for the various services and their rank (and the popularity of a service) determines which service they will get. Currently the most popular services are the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Foreign Service. If the Indian Foreign Services becomes less popular, it will still get the number of officers it wants - just that they will be those that secured a lower rank.
As an aside, the Indian Foreign Service is severely under strength, given India’s growth and aspirations. The current officers are reluctant to increase intake and dilute prestige and power. And they resist lateral entry even from other services. The Govt has recently increased intake at entry level and forced the Indian foreign service to accept more lateral entry from other services for consular and commercial functions. Lateral entry from the private sector is not allowed in Govt, except at very senior levels and very sparingly.
Who else here thinks the Saudi prince should have been thrown in prison? I raise my hand.
This is your second warning since your return from suspension. I have suspended you for a month pending staff discussion of your posting privileges.
twickster, for the SDMB
I am a stickler for rules. Rules can be changed from time to time, but they ought to apply to all, equally.
This Khobragade case brouhaha from the Indian Govt does not occur for Indian citizens in the US who are arrested when they misbehave, even Indian citizens that are Indian Govt employees, other than the Indian Foreign Service.
The Indian Foreign Service seems to think it has to get diplomatic immunity. Khobragade ought to be tried in India for fraud (after all she lied on a visa form which is conduct unbecoming of an officer), but it wont happen. She will be celebrated as a victim and martyr for a few reasons:
(1) Most Indian Foreign Service officers routinely do what she did.
(2) She is a woman and a descendant of former untouchables and this has political ramifications. I am all for affirmative action for both groups, but not special treatment when it comes to misbehavior.
Almost all New York City politicians favor immigration reform. Strongest opposition to helping undocumented workers comes from states like Wyoming and Idaho, and distant white suburban areas, where the population is overwhelmingly native-born.
I’d like to see some evidence of the wages of undocumented workers in New York City. I think they do generally get paid at least the minimum wage, but, right now, my guess is no better documented than yours.
As for the relationship between this and the rest of the thread, I am missing it. Yes, there is injustice in America, as in every country. So?
The housekeeper reported to police being the victim of a crime. That, and not her nationality, is why her case is being pursued by the authorities and other similar ones are ignored.
I would dispute this. I think the battleground over immigration is the southwest: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Southern California. Most of the people entering the country illegally cross over from Mexico so these places feel a more direct connection to the issue than places like Wyoming or Idaho do.
Anything to protect “the lady,” right?
I’m sure the poor victim will be compensated very well. I’d guess a hefty fine is being negotiated. Maybe an audit of India’s consulate worker’s contracts with domestic help is required too. Whatever is worked out probably won’t be released to the press.
This has never been a straight forward criminal case. The US and India had been arguing back and forth about consular immunity and contracts for domestic help for several months. Perhaps even for years. Wasn’t that other similar case in 2011? Khobragade is just a pawn in this international game. It’ll end by a negotiated agreement between India and the US.
Here is a link to today’s news story in an Indian newspaper
and an opinion piece by a person of Indian origin
The news story says Khobargade may get waiver from pretrial fingerprinting and medical tests. It also says there are 14 other IFS officers currently serving in the US with Indian domestic workers - all of them likely underpaid. It also has some information about confabulations among various departments in Delhi to address the issue on a long term basis.
If I were discussing elitism, income inequalities, social inequalities in India etc in another thread, it would have been good for me. Would have welcomed all the valid criticism.
This thread however, I am tempted to point out the things like -
Also the fact that its about the Consular General who we think are among of the main representatives of India in the world, and elitism is not even applicable.
Also, if this was an example of elitism, then such elitism would be there in most countries of the world as most would have reacted in a similar way.
How much does a cup of coffee cost in New York compared to, say, Mumbai? What about a haircut? A pair of shoes? GDP cuts both ways.
That is nominal GDP my sophisticated friend.
I have given GDP (PPP) ratio which nullifies currency values.
Nominal GDP per capita ratio for USA and India is I think abt 30 or 40:1.
Unfortunately, that’s true. But the ideal should be that the poor and powerless get the same legal treatment as the rich and influential - and vice versa.
The maid’s lawyer says, per the link above, that the maid worked very long hours. Long hours and the fact of separation from family (husband and children) do not make it easy for anyone, except the arrogant, to say $500 per month plus room and board for her was better than what she could have got in India.
Regarding the privileged lady Khobargade, here is more information:
All Indian foreign service officers are required to submit a declaration of immovable property they (and their spouses) own to the Govt each year. And these declarations are public. Khobargade’s declaration can be accessed at
She has declared in the return above that she bought a flat (apartment) in Adarsh Complex of Bombay (now Mumbai) at 90 lakh rupees (nine million rupees - a lakh is one hundred thousand)
The news story in the link below says she actually paid 1.1 crores (a crore is 10 million) i.e. 11 million rupees.
Adarsh Complex was meant for widows of war martyrs. Subsequently rules were changed by the govt. It is not clear how Khobargade was allowed to purchase an apartment in the complex when she owned another apartment at the time of her application.
Then you’re saying that prices are the same in New York and in India?
Agreed. We(the world) would get closer to what you’ve talked about in future but I think we will need everything for this - moral values, spiritual values and well thought out governing, economic and welfare models.