What is it with Taiwan politicians or government officials abusing Philippine maids? First there was Elmer Fang. Now?
A TECO representative in the US.
From Wikipedia which is not an authorized source so for reference only.
Employer abuse
Diplomatic immunity from local employment and labor law when employing staff from the host country has precipitated abuse. The local staff are employed where local knowledge is needed (such as an administrative assistant, press/PR officer), or as menial staff like a cleaner, maid or mechanic. When the employer is a diplomat, the employees are in a legal limbo where the laws of neither the host country nor the diplomat’s country are enforceable. There is an inherent conflict of interest, as the diplomat is the chief representative of their country and its laws, and is not forced to obey local law, so that an abusive diplomat employer can act with virtual impunity. Diplomats have ignored local laws concerning minimum wages, maximum working hours, vacation and holidays. The worst abusers have imprisoned the employees in their homes, deprived them of their earned wages, passports, and communication with the outside world, abused them physically and emotionally, deprived them of food and invaded their privacy.[43][44] In the case of corrupt countries and abusive diplomats, it has been virtually impossible to enforce payment of wages or any standards whatsoever. South Africa, for example, was criticised for claiming immunity from labor laws relating to a Ukrainian domestic worker at their ambassador’s residence in Ireland.[45]
The American Civil Liberties Union filed an amicus brief in Swarna v. Al-Awadi to argue that human trafficking is a commercial activity engaged in for personal profit, which falls outside the scope of a diplomat’s official functions, and therefore diplomatic immunity does not apply.[46]
Hmm. 16 to 18 hours a day for US$400 to US$450 a month? I figure that’s about US$0.97 per hour.
If guilty, maybe Liu’s punishment should be to work for that same wage while the Filipina gets Liu’s TECO salary and working hours.
People in general want to get the most bang for the buck. That’s fine when it comes to purchasing goods. But when it comes to employing someone’s services, that’s a really inconsiderate way of treating the other person.
[quote=“tango42”]From Wikipedia which is not an authorized source so for reference only.
Employer abuse
Diplomatic immunity from local employment and labor law when employing staff from the host country has precipitated abuse. The local staff are employed where local knowledge is needed (such as an administrative assistant, press/PR officer), or as menial staff like a cleaner, maid or mechanic. When the employer is a diplomat, the employees are in a legal limbo where the laws of neither the host country nor the diplomat’s country are enforceable. There is an inherent conflict of interest, as the diplomat is the chief representative of their country and its laws, and is not forced to obey local law, so that an abusive diplomat employer can act with virtual impunity. Diplomats have ignored local laws concerning minimum wages, maximum working hours, vacation and holidays. The worst abusers have imprisoned the employees in their homes, deprived them of their earned wages, passports, and communication with the outside world, abused them physically and emotionally, deprived them of food and invaded their privacy.[43][44] In the case of corrupt countries and abusive diplomats, it has been virtually impossible to enforce payment of wages or any standards whatsoever. South Africa, for example, was criticised for claiming immunity from labor laws relating to a Ukrainian domestic worker at their ambassador’s residence in Ireland.[45]
The American Civil Liberties Union filed an amicus brief in Swarna v. Al-Awadi to argue that human trafficking is a commercial activity engaged in for personal profit, which falls outside the scope of a diplomat’s official functions, and therefore diplomatic immunity does not apply.[46][/quote]
Taiwanese have no diplomatic immunity…they are unofficial representatives only.
[quote=“the bear”][quote=“tango42”]From Wikipedia which is not an authorized source so for reference only.
Employer abuse
Diplomatic immunity from local employment and labor law when employing staff from the host country has precipitated abuse. The local staff are employed where local knowledge is needed (such as an administrative assistant, press/PR officer), or as menial staff like a cleaner, maid or mechanic. When the employer is a diplomat, the employees are in a legal limbo where the laws of neither the host country nor the diplomat’s country are enforceable. There is an inherent conflict of interest, as the diplomat is the chief representative of their country and its laws, and is not forced to obey local law, so that an abusive diplomat employer can act with virtual impunity. Diplomats have ignored local laws concerning minimum wages, maximum working hours, vacation and holidays. The worst abusers have imprisoned the employees in their homes, deprived them of their earned wages, passports, and communication with the outside world, abused them physically and emotionally, deprived them of food and invaded their privacy.[43][44] In the case of corrupt countries and abusive diplomats, it has been virtually impossible to enforce payment of wages or any standards whatsoever. South Africa, for example, was criticised for claiming immunity from labor laws relating to a Ukrainian domestic worker at their ambassador’s residence in Ireland.[45]
The American Civil Liberties Union filed an amicus brief in Swarna v. Al-Awadi to argue that human trafficking is a commercial activity engaged in for personal profit, which falls outside the scope of a diplomat’s official functions, and therefore diplomatic immunity does not apply.[46][/quote]
Taiwanese have no diplomatic immunity…they are unofficial representatives only.[/quote]
I was acquainted with the previous Singapore Trade Representative to Taiwan and he explained that he had ‘limited diplomatic immunity’ which included diplomatic plates for his automobile. I also worked for eleven years at the Organization of American States in Washington, DC. All of the top people there, who were not Americans, carried full diplomatic immunity. In addition many staff people carried ‘limited diplomatic immunity.’
Any country can decide what level of immunity, if any, to grant to any kind of foreign representative. The top AIT staff in Taiwan have some level of diplomatic immunity and the US grants at least the same level to the Taiwan trade representatives and staff at TECO offices.
She’s just treating her maid the same way there as she would treat her here. Which is awufl. But it’s good that it’s getting some press.
The maid according to news ran away in August with a Philippine man who she met at the grocery store. Hmmm maybe more to the story.
Human trafficking which is part of the charge may not be covered under diplomatic immunity. Human trafficing is big time international crime. Anyway, it’s up to the host government how they enforce immunity even though there are standards and agreements in place.
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that’s good, they should jail that teco official! In Germany for example there was this Arabian ambassador treating his maid as a slave and never paid her anything. appearantly his family was even allowed to slap and punish her. The German officials knew about that but did nothing, cause he had immunity. That is just one of many cases. The only thing they can do is “ask the person to leave the country”, ridiculous.
The maid was also employed by the government and never should have been working in the official’s house. By deducting her salary every month for “room and lodging” (also provided by the Taiwanese taxpayers), Liu was simply finding another way of putting public money in her own pocket.
And MOFA’s handling of the case has been shambolic. They have already declared her innocent without making any effort to uncover the facts of the case.
At least the case has attracted a considerable amount of public attention and criticism, which may do something to highlight the treatment of foreign workers in Taiwan.
Prosecutors said Liu’s office maintains unofficial relations between the United States and Taiwan and is similar to a foreign government consulate, although the U.S. doesn’t recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.
Prosecutors in Kansas City told The Kansas City Star newspaper that Liu is believed to be the first foreign official to face this charge in the United States. While others have been prosecuted for mistreating domestic workers, Liu is accused of violating a law covering the recruitment of foreign workers and their transport into the United States on fraudulent terms, prosecutors said.
I hope if guilty she cops bird.
I have heard that this Ms. Liu has been under observation for quite some time.
There were rumors in Taiwan several months ago that some “high ranking Taiwanese official in the USA” was going to be arrested. That is what I heard.
Moreover, I am told that there is even something bigger in the pipeworks. This type of news event that appears quite damaging to Taiwan’s international image. I hear that there will be a even bigger news story of some kind regarding Taiwan in Dec. 2011.
Unfortunately, I have no further details.
[quote=“Hartzell”]
There were rumors in Taiwan several months ago that some “high ranking Taiwanese official in the USA” was going to be arrested. [/quote]
Yup. She was reassigned to Taipei way back in August when news broke about what a nasty cunt she is. Lord knows why she was still there in November. Maybe she was scared of the brouhaha of an arrest while trying to leave the country or something.
Or maybe the FOreign Ministry just forgot. 
But can you imagine being SUCH a completely horrible bastard that your OWN colleagues are lining up to rat you out? That Liu sounds like one NASTY bit of work.
Too embarrassing to return her home with an election on the horizon. She refused to apply for bail?
The plot thickens.
Banged up waiting sentence. Who will clean her drum now?
I have some foreign friends who employ Filipina domestics under the same situation, which I have expressed disagreement with. Although she is treated with respect and has become “part of the family” (they went to her wedding in the Phil, etc.) it’s good to send them the message that if they had entered into the same agreement in the US, they would be committing a criminal act. So i guess this is the dark side of “do as the Romans do.”
Forgive me for using this example of US exceptionalism 
but even US political appointments over 200 years ago, such as Thomas Jefferson when he was in Paris, knew you had to apply the laws of the host country to your servants, slaves or hired help etc. That is why he paid his cooks, house servants etc. and others who were his slaves back in the US a wage while stationed in Paris.
What a dumb bitch. That someone like her could get appointed reiterates the stupidity of so many in MOFA when it comes to overseas postings. For every agricultural expert that works to his last day in the field before dying of liver cancer (many examples in agriculture missions) there are useless appointments like this cow.
the big news in december will be that the USA grants visa free to taiwan citizens and in return taiwan grants 90 day visa free to US citizens (hoping) 
Wow, so now I can ditch my US passport in the trash can 