OFW Cancer-Patient in Hong Kong Gets Unfair Treatment from the Labor Department

Photo by South China Morning Post

-Baby Jane Allas, 38, had finally undergone chemotherapy on Thursday.

-She was able to pay for the said treatment with the help from the employer of her sister.

-The crowdfunding campaign had earned an amount more than HK $800,000.

The cancer-stricken OFW from Hong Kong had filed a complaint on February against her employers for her illegal termination from work.

On Wednesday, Baby Jane Allas had her first hearing at the Labor Department about her complaints against her former employer in Hong Kong. It did not go smoothly. It was a straight three-hour session that was described by Jessica Cutrera, a Hong Kong resident and an employer of Mary Jane’s sister, as “unfair” and “problematic”.



 Jessica Cutrera stated that it was very unfair for Baby Jane because when she was asked by the Labor Department to show up in person, she did. Unlike her employer who did not show up and reasoned that they were ill during the day of the first hearing. The employer had two lawyers represent them during the hearing.

Allas was accompanied by her sister and some representatives from the Philippine Consulate General.  Baby Jane had been told before the hearing that they would not include lawyers; it was unfair for her to have no legal counsel during the first hearing of her case while her previous employer had two.

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Despite the promise of the Labor Department to provide an interpreter for Baby Jane, as she was not fluent in the English language, she was not given one.

After the meeting, Baby Jane was asked to sign legal documents by the Labor Department.
Cutrera defended Allas’ rights by saying that the OFW is way too ill and thus makes her vulnerable and incapacitated to sign legal documents.



Allas said that after the discussion with the Labor Department, she was exhausted and concerned.

The case is now referred to the Labor Tribunal, and administrative procedures will start on Monday. There is still no schedule of the hearing.

Source: South China Morning Post