By Vir B. Lumicao
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| The proof: all her panties could be accounted for |
A Filipina domestic worker sought help on Mar. 11 after her
employer deducted $1,500 from her salary allegedly because her panties had clogged
the toilet sewage pipe.
The offended Filipina sent photos of her stack of panties to
Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre, saying none of her underwear was missing.
But she said her employer was unconvinced that she was not
the culprit, insisting the stuck panties were hers because she was the only one
using that washroom. So, she paid the maid just $2,710 for March.
The worker complained that each time something was broken at
home, her employer would blame it on her, and would quickly deduct the cost from
her salary. In all, she reckoned she had been deducted $5,000 for damages she
swore she had not done.
The employer had allegedly said their employment agency,
Smart Employment, had told her she could deduct the damage from the helper’s
salary.
The maid went to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office the
following Sunday to seek help, and a volunteer accompanied her to Dela Torre. The
worker also complained that her passport had been kept by her employer since she
started working for her.
Dela Torre called up Smart Employment and reminded it that any
salary deduction beyond $300 was illegal. The agency relayed the message to the
employer and she agreed to return the money.
“It’s wrong because there is a law against excessive
deductions,” the labor attaché said.
He said it was up to the worker to take up further action
against the employer, but, as always, that has to be balanced with the
continuation of her own job.
Dela Torre later said the employer had paid back, and had
returned the helper’s passport.
