Helper wins case against Hong Kong employer who repeatedly asked her for sex
Lam Yui-sang, 63, created ‘hostile and threatening’ workplace for his helper, District Court rules and awards her HK$182,387 in damages
A domestic helper has won a HK$180,000 (US$23,125) sexual harassment claim against her former Hong Kong employer, a single man who repeatedly asked her for sex despite her refusals.
The District Court on Friday ruled that Lam Yui-sang, 63, had created a “hostile and threatening” workplace for Indonesian helper Sri Wahyuni, who started her employment with him on February 17, 2022. Wahyuni said her boss began to demand sex and ask her to have his child just a few days after starting.
Wahyuni stayed alone in the two-bedroom flat in Kwai Chung with Lam for 17 days and quit fearing for her personal safety. She made a report to police in April 2022 but the complaint was dismissed as she was told there was a lack of evidence.
She began to make audio recordings of Lam’s harassment after he sniffed her hair multiple times as she walked out of the bathroom.
Lam, who initially admitted that it was his voice in the recordings, said to her: “Who says domestic helpers were not up for sex service?”
He also told her: “You should have expected to have sex with me as you came to work for me.”
Wahyuni said he had also threatened to send her back to her home country if she did not comply with his requests.
