Thread: Crew Member alleges being held against will

From Florida Today, on Feb 15:


Attorneys for Reshma Harilal, a crew member who has filed a lawsuit against Carnival Corp., alleging she is being held against her will on the ship, are hoping she will be removed from the Carnival Glory today, when the cruise ship docks in the Bahamas.

... Harilal this week filed a lawsuit against Carnival in federal court, accusing the Miami-based cruise line company of "forced labor, slavery and/or human trafficking" of her and other crew members aboard Carnival ships. She contends she was hired to work as a stateroom stewardess, but was told she had to take a lower-paying position after she boarded the ship last Saturday.

... In a statement, Carnival said: "The allegations contained within the suit are patently false, and the company looks forward to vigorously defending itself."

FULL STORY HERE: Attorneys await ship staffer's release | floridatoday.com | Serving Brevard County and Florida’s Space Coast

From Florida Today, Feb 16:

Reshma Harilal, a Carnival Corp. crew member who has filed a lawsuit against the company alleging she was being held against her will on the Glory cruise ship, was able to leave the vessel Friday afternoon in Nassau, Bahamas. The Glory is a ship based at Port Canaveral.

. . . Meister said it is her understanding that Carnival was going to provide Harilal -- who has a visa allowing her to work on cruise ships, as well as a tourist visa -- with a plane ticket to South Africa.

That ticket would allow her to enter the United States from Nassau. She probably will remain in Florida for a week, then depart to South Africa, Harilal said.


FULL STORY here: Carnival worker involved in lawsuit leaves ship | floridatoday.com | Serving Brevard County and Florida’s Space Coast

Seems odd to me as she has been with Carnival for years. The crew are hired through employment brokers and I expect that there is an ample supply of willing applicants. JMO

FSFreddy, I'm with you. Even before I read the article, I found it interesting that this woman was going to stay in Miami a week before returning to her home. There are flights out to Jo'burg more often than once a week. Is she shopping for publicity, perhaps?