The case of Sendi Febrina illustrates some of the Labour Tribunal system's shortcomings.
On July 25, Febrina's case came across the desk of the tribunal's presiding officer, Magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei, for the fourth time in eight months. The officer expressed her irritation at both women for being disorganised. 'This case is a real pain,' said Chui.
Febrina is seeking HK$30,524 from her former employer, Mandy Kwan Ching-sze, to recover five months of unpaid wages, airfares and other small claims.
In 2011, after Kwan had been kicked out of her Sha Tin home for failing to pay her rent, she lived with a friend and avoided Febrina's attempts to make contact. 'It took me a long time to find her,' said Febrina. 'I had to ask for the help of a Filipino helper who took a child to the same school as my employer did.'
In a statement Kwan made to the presiding officer in March this year, she said Febrina failed to inform her about an earlier hearing, and accused the helper of stealing from her and leaving her child at home alone.
At the July 25 court date, the presiding officer mistakenly ruled that since a criminal investigation was taking place against Febrina, the tribunal case would be adjourned indefinitely.