Filipina Designer Wins Wage Fight as Perfume Claim Fails
A Filipina fashion designer has won over BD2,300 after her boss failed to pay months of wages, then claimed she owed nearly BD3,000 for perfume sent to the Philippines.
The High Labour Court dismissed the firm’s claim after finding no proof that the worker owed it any cash or money for the goods.
The woman, represented by lawyer Zainab Madan, was awarded BD1,816.667 in unpaid wages and BD500 for unused annual leave.
She will also receive BD100 in legal fees, damages for the late wages and yearly interest of 1 pc on the holiday pay from February 11, 2026, until the bill is cleared.
The designer earned BD500 a month under a one-year contract that ran from November 7, 2024, to November 7, 2025.
She told the court she had not been paid for June, August or October 2025, or for her final seven days at work. She also sought BD200 cut from her September wage.
The firm claimed she had been given BD1,000 in cash, kept another BD100 and taken perfume worth BD2,860 abroad to sell.
It asked the court to order her to pay BD2,960 and deduct that sum from any money she won.
But judges found no receipts, written records, admissions or other proof that she had received the cash or had agreed to pay for the perfume.
One witness said he had packed perfume for shipment to the Philippines at the worker’s request. Yet he knew nothing about the terms of the deal, why the goods were sent, if they were sold or who got the money.
A second witness was not allowed to give evidence after records showed he was both a manager and partner in the firm.
The court said the employer had also failed to show that the missing wages had been paid through lawful channels.
It ordered the firm to pay BD134.500 in court costs and BD10 for the copy of the ruling used to enforce the award.
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