27 year-old Lily needs to earn money to support her family. At the same time, she also expects to have a house of her own. With these dreams in her home country – Indonesia, Lily decided to come to Taiwan to work as a caregiver. However, to one’s surprise, only after two months of working, she has been losing 12 kg of weight since the sons of the employer are dissatisfied with Lily’s work performance. They took turn to beat her causing her ribs, jaw bone, etc. to be fractured and triggering many other bruises, rhabdomyolysis all over her body. The employer’s second son has even repeatedly sexually harassed Lily. In order to prevent Lily from resorting to help from outside, the mother who received caregiving from Lily even told lies to the manpower agency that Lily disappeared, but in reality, they locked the main door so that Lily could not get out of the house. After 1 month of enduring, Lily had no ways but choose to climb out of the window from the 4th floor to seek escape from that family. Fortunately, only after the kind-hearted passers-by later sent her to the hospital and called the police were the wicked and inhumane behaviors of the employer exposed to the light.
After leaving the hospital, Lily was arranged to stay at the shelter center. Throughout the past time, with the whole-hearted care from the life counselor at the center, her injury was quickly recovered. Everyone patiently accompanied Lily to let her vent out all of the accumulated pain and grievances in her heart. Taiwanese government also covered medical expenses and provided basic financial assistance for Lily based on the Human Trafficking Prevention Law of Taiwan. In the shelter center, Lily was particularly keen on studying from the knowledge of legal rights, cooking courses to computer courses. Also, through multi-cultural activities, Lily shows her great talent of art, especially in the Chinese course, she not only positively kept listening to Chinese materials, but also learned from the life counselors in the center, asking them whether the meaning of some words are true or not. Gradually, Lily opened her heart, greeting and smiling to anyone whom she met. More importantly, the bi-lingual social workers in the center accompanied Lily during the process of medical treatment and rehabilitation, getting her transcript and helping her apply for legal assistance. In the long process of judicial stage, the staff in the center also helped Lily in the discussion with lawyer for many times to seek for the beneficial evidences and accompanied her to the court. Finally, the employer family of three people, including the mother and her two sons, has been sued by the District Prosecutor Office for the charge of injuring others, forced indecency and other criminal prosecution based on the Human Trafficking Prevention Law. To date, the case is still in the ongoing judicial proceedings.
It is very happy to know that after the protection and arrangement of the shelter center, Lily has gradually recovered, both physically and mentally. Lily now has found a new job, starting her new life. She even becomes a “little” assistant of the center, as long as she hears about any similar plight, she will take initiative in introducing the services of Rerum Novarum Center to her friends and expresses that Rerum Novarum Center is one of the service units that concerned the most about the migrant workers that she has ever known.
The New Affairs Social Service Center is a social service organization dedicated to caring for disadvantaged individuals in the workplace, striving to promote a society where resources are shared for the common good. They have long been committed to improving the quality of life for migrant workers and elderly care, co-creating a harmonious society for migrant workers and employers. They help marginalized groups who suffer from exploitation and injustice, and they invite you to become their guardians. Your donation will help these vulnerable individuals in overcoming their difficulties and obtaining assistance for their rights. Please click(“I want to donate") or call (02) 2397-1933 #122. Thank you for your response and concern!