I will continue to fight for better conditions for Hong Kong’s domestic helpers, vows Erwiana Sulistyaningsih after court victory

Tortured helper was awarded HK$809,430 in civil action against her former employer on Thursday

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Erwiana Sulistyaningsih has been focusing on her recovery as well as her bachelor’s degree in management at Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 12:45pm, 22 Dec 2017Updated: 11:33pm, 22 Dec 2017

Tortured foreign domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih has vowed to continue fighting for those as vulnerable as she once was, a day after she prevailed over her abusive former employer in civil litigation.

Speaking to the Post on Friday, the helper said she had been inspired to be an “advocate for those who are abused”.

In 2015 a Hong Kong court convicted and jailed Law Wan-tung for causing her injuries, one of which was so severe it amounted to grievous bodily harm inflicted with deliberate intention.

On Thursday, Erwiana was awarded HK$809,430 by the District Court in a civil claim against Law over the assaults, which the judge described as “inhumane, degrading, abhorrent” and aimed specifically to yield subordination.

“The positive court judgment pushes me more to continue,” Erwiana said on Friday. “I have made it my vow to be an advocate of those who are abused.”

She called on the Hong Kong government to review its policies to better protect foreign domestic helpers in the city.

Erwiana attends the film premiere of Erwiana: Justice for ALL at City University in Kowloon Tong in March 2016. Photo: Felix Wong

“I truly believe a lot more is needed and can be done to improve the status and conditions of my fellow migrant workers here,” she said.