Indonesian Maid Forced to Work in Pigsty in Taiwan

July 01, 2011
Taipei. A Taiwan man has been charged for allegedly forcing a Muslim maid from Indonesia to work in a pigsty, police said on Friday.

Chien Kui-chung hired the maid, identified only as Ah-Di, half a year ago to take care of his ailing mother, said Chang Li-yuan from the police bureau of Lungtan near Taipei.

‘But since the first day, he has forced Ah-Di to work in his pigsty up to 16 hours a day, feeding some 70 pigs and cleaning up their droppings,’ Chang said.

When Ah-Di refused to go to the pigsty for religious reasons, Chien slapped her face, the police officer said.

Muslims consider pigs to be unclean, do not eat pork and avoid contact with pigs.

Chien was also accused of withholding Ah-Di’s passport, mobile phone and pay and allegedly allowed her to make calls only on weekends under his supervision.

Police removed her from Chien’s home and sent her to live with social workers after she sent her elder sister, who is married to a Taiwan man, a text message asking for help, Chang said.

If convicted, Chien could face a maximum seven-year jail term for violating the Labour Bill, which forbids using foreign workers to do work not included in their contracts.

The case was lodged after a Taiwan court in August sentenced a sportswear company owner to six months in jail for forcing three Muslim workers from Indonesia to eat pork.

Ma Hsiao-chi, secretary general of the Chinese Muslim Association, said Taiwan must educate employers to respect different religious beliefs.

DPA- According to the JG)