"(b) She prepared an apology letter at the employment agency the same day. But when she returned and apologised to the defendant, defendant just asked her to leave."
At first glance it looks factually accurate. But it was the defendant who had interpreted the refusal to eat the bad food as "waste" and paragraph (b) could lead the tribunal to believe that the claimant's apology was an admission that she had wasted the food, rather than an apology for not wanting to be poisoned and a desperate attempt to keep her job!
Far from being stupid (although her former employer kept telling her that she was) Gretha is a graduate of Baguio University with a Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
She protested to the interviewing officer that the reasons for the dispute, as written on the form, were not accurate but was told that she will be allowed to speak for herself at the tribunal which is scheduled for November 1st. almost two months after her dismissal.
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She has had to find a place to live, plus pay a further HK$ 230 for two visa extensions. Of course she is not allowed to take any part time work. A relative contacted one of the signatories to this petition and she is staying with his family he writes of her:
"It would be difficult to meet a more intelligent, helpful or caring person. Her former employer either needed a saint, a robot or more probably a psychiatrist.
"Gretha is still trying to comprehend what has happened to her and wonders how she is going to make the first month's 20% interest payment on her loan. Sometimes she is full of hope that justice will prevail and she will be allowed to stay and find another job. Sometimes she just sits with tears of desperation in her eyes.
"1
DOUBLE BLACKMAIL
Two Filipina sisters work for two families in the same housing complex. The families are friends. One sister is in dispute with her ex-employer who dismissed her because she asked for more food. She refuses to pay her back wages or repatriate her to the Philippines. This woman has had 8 amahs (2 contracted and 6 illegally working part-time) in the space of one year. The family of the sister who is still employed is threatening her with dismissal if her sister does not withdraw from the dispute.
5
Appendix B
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