U.N. Diplomat's Nanny Sues over Back Wages

Peruvian diplomat Juan Carpio Malaga and his wife, Gina Carpio, are being sued by their former nanny, Prudencia Mendoza, for almost $500,000 in unpaid back wages.

Mendoza, also of Peru, entered the country on an G-5 visa, a courtesy to U.N. staff members that allows them to legally bring domestic workers into the United States from abroad. The visa requires there be an employment contract with the domestic and that certain working conditions must be provided, including payment at no less than the minimum wage, health insurance, and a residence. Mendoza worked for the diplomat from March 1997 until June 2004.

The suit alleges that the nanny was only paid $300 per MONTH, despite the contract, and that she was required to work 7 days per week 12 - 14 hours per day. After about a year, according to the suit, she ceased being paid at all. Mendoza alleges that Malaga would not allow her to leave and kept her passport from her.

Malaga denies all charges, and says he paid her wages into a bank account. The suit claims that the bank account in question was not Mendoza's and she had no access to the funds.