Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong abused by employer gets bruises, scratches

After suffering from the mistreatment of her employer for over a year, the body of a single mother and domestic helper in Hong Kong has been littered with scratches and bruises.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on GTV’s “Balitanghali,” Eden’s employer, a teacher in Hong Kong, hit her with a pan on various parts of her body.

The employer would also slap, kick, and scratch Eden. This continued until she was able to escape on May 13.

“She slapped my face about 15 times. She took the… and hit my thighs daily and about five times. I fell to the floor, she kicked my legs and threatened to kill me. This scared me a lot,” Eden said.

“I begged her to stop. She took my mobile [phone] so I could not communicate with anyone,” she added.

Eden was forced to work from 5:30 a.m. until midnight throughout the week as she has had no day off since the coronavirus pandemic.

She was also once forcefully fed with congee that was sprinkled with dishwashing soap when the child she was babysitting could not finish it.

Based on data from the Mission for Migrant Workers, ill-treatment cases in Hong Kong rose to 802 in 2020 from the 245 cases recorded in 2019.

Data also showed that workers who experienced sexual harassment or rape also rose by 4% with three out of 50 reporting such cases.

Meanwhile, one out of five experienced physical abuse while nine out of 10 complained about overtime.

According to the United Filipinos in Hong Kong, many Filipinos in the country were unable to take a day off since the pandemic.

“Sasabihin ng employer, mag-stay ka sa bahay kasi baka makakuha ka ng COVID sa labas. Kung Sunday ‘yan, sasabihin ‘wag ka lumabas,” Dolores Balladares Pelaez of the United Filipinos said.

(The employer will ask them to stay in the house because they might get COVID outside. Even if it’s Sunday, they’ll prohibit you from going outside.)

“Pero ‘yung ordinary days na kailangan mo mamalengke para pagluto ‘yung pamilya, okay lang pinapalabas ka,” she added.

(But if it’s an ordinary day and you need to go to the market to cook for the family, it’s okay.)

The organization said workers may tolerate the abuse in fear that their employment visas will be canceled.

“Hindi maka reklamo ‘yung mga domestic worker kasi inaakusahan ng job hopping yung mga worker so kung mag reklamo ka, maghahanap ka ng bagong employer, ang sasabihin ng immigration, kwe-kwestyunin ka,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate said this may be the reason why only a few report abuse. The Consulate also said it also its record on abuse cases did not increase.

Despite this, it assured that Filipinos seeking help will receive guidance from the Consulate.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said it received few monitoring reports of such abuse cases.

“Sa palagay ko, okay po lahat po ay nag-rereport. Kaunting bilang po ‘yung hindi nag-rereport kasi automatic po ‘yun, pag hindi po sila nag-report, suspendido po ‘yung kanilang lisensya,” POEA administrator Bernard Olalia said.

(I think everyone is reporting. Only a few agencies may not be reporting because if they don’t report, their license will automatically get suspended.)

“Ang aking inaalala lamang baka ‘yung OFWs natin na walang agencies… kasi wala pong mag mo-monitor sa kanila kung sila ay inaabuso,” he added.

(What I’m worried about is the OFWs without agencies because they will have no one to monitor them if they are being abused.)

Despite this, Olalia acknowledged that cases may be low as OFWs may refrain from reporting as they fear losing their visa.

“Naku, posible rin yun no? Alam niyo, kalimitan po sa mga OFWs natin dahil sa takot, syempre baka mawalan ng trabaho pag nag sumbong at malaman ng employer ay minamabuti na nila na tiisin no,” he said.

(It’s also possible. It may be because of fear or because the employer might find out if they do report about it.)

“Pero sana wag naman po ganon, no? Hayaan po ninyo at makikipag ugnayan tayo sa ating labor attache sa Hong Kong at ipapamonitor po natin ang ating mga OFWs doon,” he added.

(But I hope this is not the case. Let us coordinate with our labor attache and we can ask them to monitor our OFWs there.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA News