Benkharbouche v Embassy of the Republic of Sudan

Subject Matter

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Sovereign immunity — Employment — Domestic worker at London embassy — Claims of unfair dismissal and breach of working time provisions — Embassy claiming state immunity — Worker excluded from exception for employees — Whether denial of access to enforcement of claims breach of right to fair trial — Whether statute to be disapplied — State Immunity Act 1978, ss 4(2), 16 — Human Rights Act 1998, s 3, Sch 1, art 6 — Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, art 47

UKEAT/401/12; [2014] ICR 169, EAT

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Sovereign immunity — Employment — Domestic worker at London embassy — Claims for unfair dismissal and breach of working time provisions — Embassy claiming state immunity — Worker excluded by statute from exception for employees — Whether denial of access to enforcement of claims breach of Convention right to fair trial — Whether declaration of incompatibility to be granted — Whether statute to be disapplied in so far as incompatible with European Union law — State Immunity Act 1978, ss 4(2), 16 — Human Rights Act 1998, ss 3, 4, Sch 1, Pt I, arts 6, 14 — Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union 2004, art 47

[2015] EWCA Civ 33; [2016] QB 347; [2015] 3 WLR 301; [2015] 3 WLR 301; [2015] ICR 793; [2016] 1 All ER 816; [2015] WLR (D) 83, CA

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Sovereign immunity — Employment — Domestic worker at London embassy — Claims of unfair dismissal and breach of working time provisions — Embassy claiming state immunity — Worker excluded by statute from exception for employees — Whether denial of access to enforcement of claims breach of Convention right to fair trial — Whether statutory provisions to be disapplied in so far as incompatible with European Union law — State Immunity Act 1978 (c 33), ss 4(2), 16(1)(a) — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch 1, Pt I, arts 6, 14 — Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, art 47

[2017] UKSC 62; [2019] AC 777; [2017] 3 WLR 957; [2017] ICR 1327; [2018] 1 All ER 662; [2017] WLR (D) 691; Case details, SC(E)

Appellate History

Commentary

New Law Journal
Nowhere to hide 165 NLJ 7645, p13

UK Human Rights Blog
Supreme Court: state immunity rules incompatible with Article 6 Case comment

Blackstones Civil Practice 2023
Foreign States and Diplomats - Foreign States 14.45

Articles of the Convention Incorporated into the Human Rights Act 1998 - Article 6: right to a fair trial - Rights protected by art. 6 91.21