Filipina almost loses eyesight due to ’employer’s abuse’

A Filipino domestic worker almost lost her eyesight after allegedly suffering physical abuse from her employer in Saudi Arabia.

In November, Lovebella Abcede said her employer, who also owns Abcede’s recruitment agency in Saudi Arabia, told her that she would be sent home because she did not follow her rules.

Abcede asked to be transferred to another employer instead, but the employer allegedly slapped and punched her, GMA News reported.

Abcede claims that her employer also attempted to stab her in the eye with a pen. After the incident, Abcede’s agency quickly settled her flight back to the Philippines.

The employer allegedly told her not to tell anyone what happened, but Abcede stopped by the Philippine Consulate to report her case before getting her flight back to the Philippines.

Labor Attache Nasser Munder said the recruitment agency’s accreditation would be cancelled and that Abcede would get justice.

Munder said the agency will no longer be able to hire Filipino workers to avoid the risk of more workers being abused.

The domestic worker was advised to immediately file a complaint against her employer and to get a claim for damages due to her employer’s abuse.

The domestic worker is now in the Philippines and getting treatment for her injuries. According to Abcede, she had worked in Jeddah for only three weeks when she was beaten by her employer.