Nanny/Housekeeper Awarded $125,000 in Back Wages

After a 4 year battle through the courts, a Peruvian nanny/housekeeper, Alejandra Ramos and a co-worker were awarded $125,000 in back wages. The former employers, Patricia Perales and Javier Hoyle, were also found guilty in Federal court of violating federal laws against human smuggling. The human smuggling charge was a consequence of the couple withholding the nanny's passport and threatening deportation.

According to the Miami Herald report, the withholding of domestic servants' passports by household employers is a common practice in South Florida, where the employers feel the servants may be lured away by higher paying jobs.

It is unclear whether the state will be pursuing criminal penalties against the couple.