Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court has issued a significant ruling confirming that diplomatic immunity cannot prevent courts from hearing a claim brought by a domestic worker against a diplomat who privately employed her in his household.
In its decision of 25 September 2025, the Court concluded that such an employment relationship falls within the exception to immunity provided for under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations for professional or commercial activities conducted outside official diplomatic functions.
The ruling marks an important step towards improving access to justice for domestic workers, particularly migrants, who may face exploitation due to their dependence on employers and insecure residence status. Crucially, access to judicial protection does not depend on first proving modern slavery or human trafficking.
The Court did not determine the merits of the worker’s claim for compensation for abusive dismissal. It confirmed that diplomatic immunity does not prevent the proceedings from going ahead.
Read more about the ruling and its significance in the InfoMigrants article.
Foto: Unsplash/Towfiqu barbhuiya