An MP and his wife have denied she treats employees like slaves even though their former housekeeper claims she sought help from modern day slavery specialists while working for them.  

The woman says she contacted the Salvation Army’s modern slavery support unit when she was a housekeeper for Jonathan Djanogly’s wife Miss Rebecca Silk in 2021.  

The live-in position was based at the MP for Huntingdon’s £7m London home, and the woman says the Salvation Army also arranged temporary accommodation for her when she left the role for good.  

She later took legal action to get paid – and details of her experience of working for Miss Silk are outlined in the final tribunal judgement. 

It describes how she was given detailed instructions on how to carry out each of her tasks and had to tick off each step as it was completed. 

The tribunal judgement says, for example, that 80 morning tasks were outlined across 20 pages. Some were broken down into smaller parts.   

In the document, Employment Judge Heath said: “The impression I formed was that following the numerous tasks within the charts in the exact order they were set out, and ticking them off once done, was a feat of compliance that was practically a task in itself.”    

The housekeeper was even told how the avocados should be rotated between the fruit bowl and the fridge – a detail echoed by a second former employee who also took legal action against Miss Silk.  

Hazel Settas shared her story in The Sunday Mirror this week. 

Mr Djanogly and his wife both insist "she is always concerned about the welfare of her employees". 

While the MP admits Miss Silk will review contractual terms for future employees, he insists “neither tribunal judgement referred to the mistreatment of employees, let alone modern day slavery”. 

In a recent Facebook post to constituents, Mr Djanogly said: “I am aware of a story circulating in some parts of the press about my wife, Miss Rebecca Silk, and I wish to make clear that she is always concerned about the welfare of her employees.   

“It is correct that Rebecca had contractual employment disputes with two individuals. Rebecca accepts the resulting tribunal judgements and will be reviewing contractual terms with future employees.   

“Neither tribunal judgement referred to mistreatment of employees, let alone modern day slavery, and any suggestion that this occurred at any point is firmly denied.   

“Appropriate legal action is being actively considered in response.”  

The judgement also says the housekeeper’s work was being monitored on CCTV without her knowing, and that she was to be no more than 15 minutes away from the house on her workdays.  

Employment Judge Heath said: “The whole picture which emerged from the evidence is of the respondent retaining a very substantial degree of control over the claimant.... 

"...A requirement that the claimant stay within walking distance of the house is in keeping with this overall picture of tight control.” 

The housekeeper was employed in the spring of summer of 2021, during which she queried her pay with Miss Silk believing she was owed more money.  

The judgement said: “At some point in July [the] claimant contacted the modern slavery support unit at the Salvation Army where she received support and advice.  

“On the last four working days of July claimant was off sick. On 31 July 2021 she left the respondent’s property without giving any notice. She was offered temporary housing by the Salvation Army National Referral Unit.” 

The judge ordered Miss Silk to pay the claimant overtime, holiday pay and to pay back unlawful deductions from her wages. The total was £3148.18.  

The judgement was published in June 2022.