This maid is calling $23 an hour “cheap labor”

from www.tmz.com – Meg Whitman’s campaign just gave us documents suggesting that her former maid, Nicky Diaz Santillan, actually lied to Meg about her immigration status when she was hired back in 2000.

The documents, which Whitman claims Nicky filled out and signed back in 2000 during her application for employment, appear to show that the maid stated under the penalty of perjury that she was a “lawful permanent resident” of the United States.

Whitman also claims Nicky provided her with a social security card and valid California Driver’s License with her employment application … which Meg kept and has now handed over to TMZ.

Whitman has also issued a statement on the matter, saying … “After 9 years of faithful service, Nicky came to us in June 2009 and confessed that she was an illegal worker.”

Whitman continues, “Nicky has falsified the hiring documents and personal information she provided to the employment agency that brought her to us in 2000.”

And, Whitman continues, “I believe Nicky is being manipulated by Gloria Allred for political and financial purposes during the last few weeks of a hotly contested election.”

Whitman concludes, “This is a shameful example of the politics of personal destruction practiced by people like Jerry Brown and Gloria Allred. The charges are without merit.”

Back story: Meg Whitman’s former housekeeper was an undocumented worker and claims working for the Republican candidate for Governor was a “nightmare.”

Nicky Diaz Santillan, Whitman’s housekeeper of 9 years, held a news conference with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, and claims Whitman had all the clues she was an undocumented worker but closed her eyes to it because she was cheap help … $23 an hour.

Allred claims the housekeeper was “exploited, disrespected, humiliated and emotionally and financially abused” by Whitman.

Allred claims when the housekeeper was hired 9 years ago through an agency, Whitman never asked if she was in the U.S. legally. And, during her employment, Santillan told Whitman she couldn’t travel to Mexico. And, Allred said, Whitman found out Santillan’s Social Security number didn’t match her name, but Whitman did nothing. Allred said it’s the classic case of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

That all changed, Allred says, when Whitman launched her campaign for Governor, realizing having an illegal alien on board was a liability … and fired her.

Santillan says Whitman treated her “like a piece of garbage” by letting her go.

Allred says Santillan is filing a claim with the Labor Commission for back wages and mileage.

Yesterday, Whitman said in the debate with Jerry Brown that employers should be held accountable for hiring undocumented workers.