Lee weighs in on issue of ‘exploited’ Filipino women | THE DAILY HERALD

Says: ‘Govt. takes criminal violations seriously’ ~\n\nPHILIPSBURG--Labour Minister Emil Lee has weighed in on the matter involving three Filipino women who have accused their two employers, Front Street merchants, of exploitation.\n\n \n\n “When accusations are made where human rights and freedom of movement are restricted (such as holding people’s passports) the issue may go beyond labour violations and approaches human trafficking issues, which are possibly criminal violations which government takes very seriously,” Lee told The Daily Herald in an invited comment on the matter. \n\n He said he was happy to see that the case of the three women was brought to the attention of the Department of Labour and “I have full confidence that the staff of the Ministry will handle the matter professionally and will advise within the guidelines of the law.” \n\n Lee stressed that “all employees and employers have rights and obligations. All parties should be mindful to enter into employment agreements under the correct legal conditions ensuring everyone’s rights are protected (such as adhering to minimum wage, taxes, social premiums, hours of work, overtime pay, time off and receipt of pay slips). If hesitant or requiring additional information, the Ministry of VSA [Health, Labour and Social Affairs – Ed.] is always available as a resource for the people.”\n\n Working 16 hours a day, seven days a week for US $400 per month, restricted from going out unless their employer is accompanying them, and receiving strict instructions that they should not engage in conversations with persons outside of their boss’ household are amongst the horrifying tales the three Filipino women said they experienced at the hands of the two Front Street merchants who hired them to cook and clean at their private residence in St. Johns Estate.\n\n The three women – ages 26, 31 and 32 – were rescued by a representative of United Filipinos of St. Maarten two weeks ago and are now fighting to receive their unpaid salaries from their employers before they go back to their native country.\n\n The two employers, businessmen Haresh Sachdev and Navin Rupani, both denied the allegations and said the accusations of the Filipino trio were “all lies” and “false.”\n\n The women were promised salaries of $750 and $1,500 per month, but were only receiving $400 a month. One woman’s salary was increased by $50 a year ago. The three women ended up in the care of United Filipinos of St. Maarten in July and have since been fighting to receive monies owed by their employers, but have so far not been getting much positive results.\n\n The three women filed a complaint at the police station on July 25. Although they were promised that the Dutch report would be translated into English and they would receive a copy, they have not received a copy to date.\n\n Based on advice received, the women also went to the Department of Labour to file a complaint, but were told they needed proof that they were being paid $400 per month. It should be noted that the women were paid cash and never received pay slips, which is mandatory under the country’s labour regulations.\n\n The matter was brought to the attention of the Prosecutor’s Office on July 26.\n\n United Filipinos of St. Maarten believed the women were not getting justice anywhere and decided to secure the services of an attorney on the matter. The attorney has since sent the employers a letter outlining what the women are owed. The employers have until Thursday, August 9, to finalise the financial settlement for the women.


Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79350-lee-weighs-in-on-issue-of-exploited-filipino-women"