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Fiona Chow

A Hong Kong court has awarded more than HK$251,000 (US$32,000) to the family of a domestic helper who was dismissed by her employer in 2019 after being diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer and later died.
The years-long legal battle involving the late helper, Baby Jane Allas, came to an end on Friday when the District Court ordered her former employer, Jamil Bushra, to pay damages. Bushra had fired Allas in February 2019 while she was on medical leave.
Bushra, who was absent throughout the proceedings, was found to have violated the Disability Discrimination Ordinance by unlawfully dismissing an employee on the grounds of disability.
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) filed the claim against Bushra in 2020, when Allas was still in Hong Kong receiving treatment at a private hospital paid by crowdfunding and her younger sister’s employer, Jessica Cutrera.
Allas later returned to the Philippines, where she died in 2021 at the age of 40. She is survived by five children.
In her judgment, Deputy District Judge Ebony Ling Yee-nam said that the sudden dismissal had caused Allas “severe emotional distress and financial pressure”, citing evidence that showed she had cried a lot and been left in a vulnerable state.
She also noted that Bushra “never apologised to the deceased during her lifetime”.
The judge pointed out that the former employer had demonstrated a pattern of “uncooperative behaviour”, such as ignoring the EOC’s conciliation efforts, evading service of court documents and even moving away from her responding address.

Ling found that Allas was entitled to receive HK$120,000 in compensation for injury to the late helper’s feelings, in addition to HK$33,367 for loss of income.
Besides granting the claims, Ling ordered Bushra to bear the cost of all the proceedings.
The younger sister of Baby Jane Allas, Mary Ann Allas Pereira, took over the lawsuit. She earlier told the court that her sister fell into a dark place after losing her job.
“She was facing the wall all the time. She lost her appetite. She just wanted to go home and die. She was not the same person,” Allas Pereira said.
Allas Pereira told the South China Morning Post she had mixed feelings about the outcome.
“To be honest, I don’t know what to feel. I pursued the case because my sister and I wanted to set an example [for] other helpers to fight for their rights,” she said. “I know my sister [would be] happy that we won, but [this is] definitely not the ending that she was hoping for.”
She added that Bushra’s absence made her question whether the wrongdoer would be held accountable.
The SCMP first reported Allas’ case in March 2019, sparking public outcry over the difficulties faced by domestic workers suffering from serious illnesses. If dismissed, they could lose access to public healthcare services.
The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions said 67 Filipino helpers diagnosed with cancer sought help from a care group last year, but only 10 successfully received medical support and the relevant entitlements.
Cutrera hosted Allas at her home and helped launch a crowdfunding campaign to cover her medical bills.
The trusts and estates practitioner also said she used her connections to secure treatment for Allas at a private hospital.
The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions remarked on the lengthy proceedings, saying “the suffering endured by domestic workers and their families is disproportionate”.
“The [absence of the former employer], coupled with Baby Jane’s death in 2021, has made this ruling long overdue, imposing an even greater mental and psychological burden on Baby Jane’s family,” the union said.


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Baby Jane Allas in 2019. Photo: AFP

Jessica Cutrera (left) and Baby Jane Allas at Gleneagles Hospital. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Mary Ann Allas Pereira, a sibling of Baby Jane Allas, speaks remotely at an event held by the Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions. Photo: May Tse

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The late Baby Jane Allas in 2019. Under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, it is unlawful for an employer to fire an employee on the grounds of their disability. Photo: AFP

The deceased’s younger sister,  Mary Ann Allas Pereira, speaks remotely at a 2025 event held by the Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions and the Filipino Migrant Cancer Support Society. Photo: May Tse

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News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Years-long legal battle involving late Baby Jane Allas comes to end as District Court orders former employer, Jamil Bushra, to pay damages


Years-long legal battle involving late Baby Jane Allas comes to end as District Court orders former employer, Jamil Bushra, to pay damages.


Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)

Court awards HK$251,000 to family of late helper sacked during cancer battle

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Years-long legal battle involving late Baby Jane Allas comes to end as District Court orders former employer, Jamil Bushra, to pay damages

Years-long legal battle involving late Baby Jane Allas comes to end as District Court orders former employer, Jamil Bushra, to pay damages