A court in Oslo has acquitted a couple charged with exploiting two au pairs from the Philippines and forcing them to work up to 96 hours a week in their home and at a grocery store they ran.
News bureau NTB reported that the court found there was no evidence that the au pairs were trapped in the couple’s home, and that they could have either quit, traveled home or arranged a transfer to another home for the duration of their au pair term in Norway.
The court did find, however that the couple violated Norwegian labour laws because the two au pair did not have legal working permission beyond their au pair contracts. The woman, aged 39, was convicted and sentenced to 24 days in prison, while the man, age 42, was sentenced to 21 days. He was also ordered to pay a fine of NOK 10,000.
newsinenglish.no staff
