HK businessman's trafficking sentence in Canada 'a warning to employers of domestic helpers'
HK man's jail term in Canada shows danger of allowing helpers to overstay, say agencies
Hong Kong employers who take their domestic helpers with them to Canada face a high risk of prosecution if the helper overstays in the country.
The warning from helper agencies came after the sentencing on Tuesday of a Hong Kong businessman in the British Columbia Supreme Court.
Franco Orr Yiu-kwan, who took his Filipino helper with his family when they moved to Canada, was jailed for 18 months for human trafficking.
The court heard Orr forced the woman, Leticia Sarmiento, to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for almost two years - long after her six-month tourist visa had expired.
Prosecutors said they hoped the sentence would deter other would-be traffickers.
Richard Lam Kwok-chuen, owner of Metro Asia Recruitment Services, said it was common for employers to take their helpers to Canada when they emigrated or went on holiday.
Immigrants are required to seek a work visa for their helpers. If one was granted, they have to pay the hourly minimum wage of C$10.25 (HK$76), Lam said.