Elizabeth Hurley & Arun Nayar Settle Dispute With Ex-Maid

Elizabeth Hurley & Arun Nayar Settle Dispute With Ex-Maid 2/20/08

British model/actress Elizabeth Hurley and her husband Arun Nayar have settled an unfair dismissal lawsuit filed against them by their former maid, who claimed she was paid just $2.40 an hour.

Violet D'Souza, who was brought over to the U.K. from her native India by Nayar, lived and worked for the couple at their posh London home for four years before she was suddenly fired last year (07) after falling out with her employers.

D'Souza went to seek help from local Citizens Advice Bureau lawyers following the sacking, and soon filed for an employment tribunal claim, accusing the couple of breach of contract, failure to supply a written statement of terms and conditions, race discrimination and unfair dismissal.

She also filed for minimum wage and earnings owed under U.K. law, where employees over the age of 22 must be paid at least $11.04 an hour.

She claims to have worked between 60 and 70 hours a week at one point, and was occasionally required to be on hand from 7:30am until 3am the following day.

The case was due to go before the capital's Kingsway Employment Tribunal on Thursday (21Feb08) for a pre-hearing review, but Hurley and successful businessman Nayar are believed to have offered D'Souza a five-figure settlement sum at the last minute to put an end to the situation.

A spokesman for Kingsway Employment Tribunal says, "We can confirm this claim has been withdrawn and the pre-hearing review has been cancelled, but cannot discuss the reasons."

Hurley's personal fortune is estimated at $26 million, while business tycoon Nayar comes from a wealthy Indian family with a background in the textile industry.