A Filipino domestic worker plans to defend a claim in Hong Kong’s Labor Tribunal on Tuesday for HK$50,000 (US$6,400) from her former employer after the two sides failed to compromise on a settlement proposal on November 21.
The claim is for unpaid wages and other monies. Meanwhile, another maid who worked for the same employer is making a separate claim, also for unpaid wages.
In January 2014, Lanie Grace Rosareal started working for Leung Shet-ying, now 63. They had a good relationship until early this year, subwebhk.com reported.
Then things started going wrong. Rosareal, now 27, said she was beaten daily by Leung’s live-in companion, Au Wai-chun, 65, a retired civil servant. Au had reportedly been convicted in September 2014 of pouring hot water on a Bangladeshi domestic worker.
Rosareal also said she was made to compensate for alleged misdeeds. In October this year, she was unreasonably charged HK$7,670, she claimed.
In mid-October, Rowela Subiono Suete, 36, started working for the same couple in The Grandiose estate in Tseung Kwan O, New Territories East. After continually hearing Rosareal’s wailings at night, she sought help from a friend. She and Rosareal fled from the apartment on November 9.
They met with Leung separately with conciliators at the Labor Department office in Kwun Tong on November 21. The two domestic workers and Leung failed to agree on a compensation package. Rosareal decided to file a case with the Labor Tribunal, which will hold a hearing on Tuesday.
Rosareal will claim HK$31,500 for six months’ unpaid wages plus food allowance, HK$4,210 monthly pay in lieu of notice, HK$10,600 severance pay, wages for working on 19 holidays, and return airfare.
Suete will also claim for her own unpaid wages.
Rosareal has also reported the case to the police, who are investigating.