Labor Lowdown: Indonesian maid reports abuse by employer in Hong Kong, sparks protests

Here’s what you need to know about domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih and her alleged abuse by employer, former beautician Law Wan-tung:

The story of a domestic worker who was beaten, starved and threatened by her employer sparked protests in Hong Kong last week.

The case of Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih began to draw attention after she reportedly confessed the abuse to her friend Riyanti in early January: “The truth is I was tortured by my employer. She beat me up and didn't give enough food to eat. I got very weak so she sent me home.”

Fellow domestic worker Riyanti had noticed her swollen face and the difficulty she had moving while the two were at the airport returning home to Indonesia. When confronted by Riyanti, Erwiana first denied abuse out of fear of retaliation.

Erwiana’s case resonated with other maids in Hong Kong who empathized with the domestic worker. About 2,000 maids gathered at a protest organized by the International Migrants Alliance on Jan. 19. Slogans read, “We are workers, we are not slaves” and “Justice for Erwiana.”

The protesters are concerned about Hong Kong’s “live-in” law that requires domestic workers to live with their employers putting them at risk for physical and sexual abuse.

Indonesian workers like Erwiana also often face exploitation from recruiters who charge high fees. When maids want to quit their jobs because of abuse, the recruiters force them to stay to pay their debts.

Police arrested Erwiana’s employer Law Wan-tung on Monday when she attempted to board a flight to Thailand.

During a hearing where Law was formally charged, the prosecutor described the alleged mistreatment of multiple maids. The domestic workers were struck with objects such as clothes hangers and mops and Law threatened to kill their families if they reported the abuse, according to the prosecutor. Law did not enter a plea.

The prosecutor argued against bail because of the severity of the charges and the possibility that Law may attempt to flee, but the judge released Law on bail of HK$1 million ($128,900) on Wednesday and set the next hearing for March 25. Erwiana is currently recovering in a hospital in Sragen, central Java.

International attention toward cases of domestic worker abuse has flaired since the recent case of the Indian diplomat who was arrested and strip-searched in New York City last month. Devyani Khobragade allegedly abused her maid, significantly underpaying her and forcing her to work 17-hour days, seven days per week, in "slavery-like conditions" since Nov. 2012.

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