RI housekeeper in U.S. wins labor case

RI housekeeper in U.S. wins labor case

LOS ANGELES (AP): An Indonesian, who worked without travel documents as a live-in housekeeper for a Californian couple, was awarded US$47,827 yesterday in a lawsuit claiming she had been exploited by her employers.

Yuni Mulyono was awarded back wages with interest and legal fees by Superior Court Judge Jack W. Morgan, who said in his May 23 ruling that her immigration status was a "non-issue".

"Whether or not a person is in the United States legally or not does not impact upon their ability to seek minimum wage for services performed," Morgan ruled.

Ms. Mulyono, 31, an immigrant from Jakarta, claimed that she was given room and board and paid $100 a month while working 65 hours a week for a family in suburban Carson.

The judge rejected the family's argument that Ms. Mulyono was an ungrateful "guest" who spent her time lounging around.

Her former employers, Lina Nilam and her husband, Reginald Hall, declined to comment, said their lawyer, Phillip Balikian of Torrance. The couple is considering an appeal.

Both sides gave different accounts of how Ms. Mulyono came to be employed.

The couple claimed Ms. Mulyono had approached them in Indonesia and asked to come to the United States, and once in California, she had spent most of her time on leisure activities.

The couple said they had treated her like family and that she was free to come and go as she pleased.

But Ms. Mulyono claimed she had found the family through her cousin, who worked for Nilam's sister.

Ms. Mulyono said she had been told that the offer of $100 a month and room and board was equivalent to the minimum wage in California. It was four times her monthly salary in Jakarta and she agreed to remain for five years.

"For me this was a chance to better myself and to do more for my daughter and my brothers and sisters," said Ms. Mulyono.

Her responsibilities included cleaning, cooking and laundry; dressing and feeding the couple's young daughter; and caring for two dogs.

In January 1994, Ms. Mulyono said, she had enrolled in an English class. Her employers had provided transportation to the class but she had otherwise been forbidden to go anywhere without permission.

Ms. Mulyono said she began talking with other immigrant laborers in the class and started questioning her situation. A classmate encouraged her to confront the couple.

"They were really angry with me," Ms. Mulyono said. "She (Ms. Nilam) told me, 'We will send you back to Indonesia.'"

On Sept. 19, 1995, Ms. Mulyono had decided to leave. But Ms. Nilam came home unexpectedly, she said, forcing her to leave and allowing her to take only her purse. Ms. Mulyono now lives with a friend.

The judge's ruling could help other domestic workers to come forward, advocates said.

"It's a real shining example to workers that there is hope," said Cristina Riegos of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.

Ms. Mulyono is now working but her immigration status could mean that she will be sent back to Indonesia. She recently completed a cosmetology course and hopes to be a beautician.