By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Lou shows her bruised elbow, the result of her being pushed against a cabinet by her employer |
A 38-year-old Filipina domestic worker who claims to have been attacked three times this month by her pregnant employer in Repulse Bay agreed
to settle her case for more than $33,000 compensation in the first hours of
Thursday, Dec 9.
The helper, Lou S, who requested anonymity as she is looking
for a new employer, said she agreed to sign the settlement deal after police
who responded to her friend's 999 call on Wednesday night advised her to just sign on to
resolve the dispute once and for all.
Lou said she decided to sign even as her left elbow was
bruised and swelling after the employer allegedly slammed her against a cabinet
in a fit of rage when she learned that the helper was a minute late in fetching
her ward from the school bus downstairs.
The settlement included a letter from the employer to
Immigration saying the family was releasing the helper due to imminent
relocation to the mainland.
The employer was paying the worker six months’ salary
totaling $27,780; outstanding salary of $1,396; air ticket cost of $3,800;
accumulated holiday pay of $539, and $100 food and travel allowance. In all,
Lou was paid $33,695.
The couple also made a release letter praising the helper’s performance
and thanking her for her service to the family.
In return, the officers did not charge the pregnant woman for assaulting the
helper after the parties agreed to settle the issue around 1am Thursday.
Contacted online, the helper said the Wednesday evening
incidents were the second and third assaults on her by the employer this month.
Lou said the first incident happened on Dec 2 when the
employer strangled her because she declined to watch a video tutorial on how to
cook the employer’s favorite dish.
The second attack was on Dec 8, after the employer learned
that Lou was late in fetching the eldest child below the building. The helper
said she was busy in the kitchen at the time and didn’t notice that the school
bus was coming.
When the employer got home, she allegedly flew in a rage and
pushed the helper into the playroom and shut the door. After the first push,
the employer allegedly pushed the helper again with full force.
“Itinulak po niya ako
nang malakas at bumalandra po ako sa cabinet at bumagsak. Tapos pinagsalitaan
pa niya ako ng pangit na mga salita,” Lou said. (She pushed me forcefully that I slammed against the cabinet
and fell. Then she said ugly words against me.)
Lou said that almost everyday since she moved in with the
family on Jun 28 this year, she noticed the woman was always angry at her while
she was nice to the other Filipina helper in the house.
She first sought help from the HKOFW Facebook group managed
by Pieter Nootemboom around August this year when the employer started turning
violent towards her, such as when she hurled a flatiron in her direction but
missed.
When she was attacked again on Wednesday evening, she messaged Nootenboom who immediately called the police. Nootenboom also reported the matter to the Consulate, and
asked if the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration could rescue the worker.
He said he advised Lou not to sign the agreement and wait
for him so that he could have her examined at the hospital, but before he could
get to Repulse Bay the helper informed him that she had
decided to settle the case with her employer.
The mother of four said she was still planning to go to the
hospital for an examination of her swollen and painful elbow. She was also
planning to visit an employment agency to look for a new employer so she could
continue helping her truck driver-husband support their family.
