Labor bureau helping terminate work contract for raped caregiver

The Taichung city government's Labor Affairs Bureau said Monday it has been helping to terminate the work contract between an Indonesian caregiver and her Taiwanese employer, who has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting her.

The caregiver will be transferred to work in a factory, the bureau said, adding that it will continue providing legal advice and psychological counselling for the woman.

To prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, the bureau said, it will work with the Labor Ministry to conduct more frequent home visits to check working condition for caregivers.

Police said the victim first reported the alleged assault Sept. 9 via the 1955 hotline -- a toll-free, round-the-clock service run by the Ministry of Labor for foreign workers.

The woman told the authorities that she had recently sent a video to her employment agency that shows an incidence of her being sexually assaulted by her employer in Taichung, but the brokerage took no action.

The man accused of the offenses, surnamed Hsieh, was arrested by Taichung police on Sunday and referred to Taichung prosecutors.

According to the bureau, the Indonesian woman was hired through a legal employment process and came to Taiwan Dec. 20, 2015 to take care of Hsieh's sick father, who is in his 90s. The bureau said it paid an inspection visit to Hsieh's home Jan. 21 and that the situation appeared normal at the time.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel