Court ruled in favour of domestic helper dismissed by employer

A court ruled in favour of a domestic helper who was dismissed by her employer

after being diagnosed with cancer.

It awarded her family with more than HK$250,000 in compensation

plus interest and legal fees.

The case was heard in the District Court.

The Filipino domestic helper was terminated by her employer

3 days after being diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer in 2019.

The letter indicating her termination was based on her illness.

The helper left two days later and underwent surgery in Hong Kong

before returning home to the Philippines where she died in 2021.

The court accepted the doctor's opinion that the domestic helper was still

suitable for work at the time of her cancer diagnosis and could have worked

approximately nine more months.

After calculation, it was found that she lost more than HK$30,000 in income

during this period.

The layoff also brought her emotional and financial pressure

as a single mother of five young children.

It also caused her loss of public medical assistance in Hong Kong and she had

to pay nearly HK$100,000 for private treatment.

The court ruled the employer should compensate her family

more than HK$250,000.