A WOMAN who said she was abused while working as a domestic maid in Malaysia has agreed to drop her complaint in exchange for 2 million riels from the recruitment firm that sent her abroad, but neither side in the dispute appears to be satisfied with the arrangement.
Kampot resident Buth Synoun said yesterday that she agreed to accept 2 million riels, or roughly US$476, from Phnom Penh recruitment agency AP TSE&C Cambodia Resource Co in exchange for dropping the complaint.
“After I discussed it with my family, we agreed to accept the money because we need it for treatment for my health,” Buth Synoun said.
She added that she was not happy with the settlement – she originally demanded 7 million riels ($1,666) – but felt that she had little choice but to accept the offer.
Buth Synoun said she went willingly to Malaysia in February, but quit after two months because she felt overworked. She said she was made to work 20-hour days and when she quit, she received no payment for her work, she said.
Cheng Sithichey, the director of the recruitment firm, accused the woman of trying to “trick” the company into doling out the cash.
“I know it is the woman’s trick. She wants money from us,” he said. “Her case was five or six months ago already, so why did she just file a complaint now?”
Nevertheless, the company agreed to hand over the cash, he said, because the company needed to retain its honour.
Sim Sorphea, head of the provincial women’s rights programme for rights group Adhoc in Kampot, said she felt disappointed the woman agreed to the compensation.
“We cannot continue or do more with this case because the woman already accepted the money,” she said.
