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| The Tribunal officer urged both parties to settle to end their dispute once and for all |
A Filipina domestic helper was today paid a total of $20,533
to settle a labour claim she filed against her former employer who terminated
her and accused her of stealing some $400,000.
L.C. Lazaro still managed to say thank you to her employer after
agreeing to the settlement amount which was about $11,000 less than what she
had originally claimed.
“I want to be thankful to my employer,” L.C. Lazaro told Labour
Tribunal presiding officer Timon Shum today, Jan. 19. “I agree to what he is
willing to pay.”
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Lazaro had originally asked for $31,504, of which $17,166
was payment for one month’s salary in lieu of notice, outstanding salary,
annual leave and holiday pay, air ticket and travel allowance; plus $14,338 for
severance pay.
Lazaro filed her claims last November after her employer, Li
Hoi Ho, called the police and accused her of stealing, before terminating her. The
Filipina has denied the accusation.
Lazaro was originally hired by Li’s mother in 2016, but was
terminated after seven months. After moving to Macau, she received a call from
Li asking her to return to
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Shum clarified that both parties had agreed on the need to
pay Lazaro most of her claims, with the employer offering to pay $13,194, but not
for severance pay.
The tribunal officer suggested that the parties agree on the
non-controversial offer of the employer of $13,184 and move on to the remaining
claim that can be resolved in court.
When Lazaro questioned how the employer arrived at the
offered amount, Shum said threshing out the details can be done in a court, but
it will take time and it could go either way.
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“It’s up to you to argue over history,” he added. “The possibility of the settlement is you get
money first.”
Turning to Li, Shum explained that the law allows an
employer to not pay the termination or severance pay if the employee does a
serious misdeed, such as dishonesty, during employment.
Thus, the resolution of this issue depends on the police
investigation of Li’s theft accusation, which Lazaro denies.
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But he suggested that the case can be settled fully. “I would say it’s like a fire. If it goes on, it makes you
worry you may be burned,” Shum added.
Shum said Li can settle the whole case for his own peace of
mind, suggesting a 50 per cent discount on what Lazaro was asking for
termination or severance pay.
“Okay. I accept,” Li answered after a few minutes. This
brought his total discount to $10,971.
