Erwiana Sulistyaningsih (center). Photo: AFP
Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, the Indonesian maid who was physically abused for months by her employer in Hong Kong, has spoken of her happiness at how her case played out now that she has returned to Indonesia.
“I am happy. The judge listened to my charges in their entirety,” Erwiana said at a press conference at the Anti Women Violence National Commission in Jakarta today, as quoted by Tempo.
The Wan Chai District Court in Hong Kong sentenced Erwiana’s former employer Law Wan Tung with six years in prison and a HK$ 15,000 (Rp 25 million) fine. Tung was also ordered to pay Erwiana eight months’ worth of salary totaling HK$ 28,800 (Rp 46 million).
Erwiana said she harbors no hard feelings towards her former employer anymore.
“I have forgiven [Tung]. If I see her I won’t be traumatized anymore,” Erwiana said.
Even though Erwiana won her case, she feels that there are still others who are experiencing the grievous harm that she had to go through.
“In court, I said modern slavery in Hong Kong exists and it is real,” she said.
“The Hong Kong government has to improve the system for live-in migrant care workers.”
We hope people like Erwiana, “the migrant who fought back” who was named as one of Time Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Most Influential People in 2014’, can inspire others to end the physical abuse happening to Indonesian domestic workers everywhere.
