A Filipina, who was employed as a nanny by a couple in Leinster, has lodged papers with the Labour Relations Commission alleging exploitation.
The woman, who is now back in the Philippines, alleges she was made to work seven days a week, from 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to between 9pm and 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
In the papers, seen by The Irish Times, the woman alleges she was paid just €32 a week, or €127.36 a month, and was not allowed to leave the house except to shop for the family in a local shop and to drop off and pick up one of the children to and from school.
The nanny also claims her passport was taken and held by her employer.
A date for a hearing is likely to be set sometime in the next three months, according to the LRC.
John Ferris, the Philippines honorary consul in Ireland, who is supporting the worker's case, told The Irish Times yesterday that the woman is preparing to return to Ireland to testify in the case.
He said she had been initially employed by the couple in the Middle East but was brought back to Ireland by them in October last year until February when she was sent back to the Middle East.
A copy of her passport which accompanies the papers lodged with the LRC shows her visa for Ireland, which states the bearer is "permitted to remain in Ireland on condition that the holder does not enter employment, does not engage in any business or profession".
Mr Ferris said her situation came to his attention after she contacted him after getting his number from a Filipina she met at church.
"She made an excuse to get out of the house in February pretending to go to church.
"The employer gave her permission to go out for two hours but told her she must be back by 5pm."
Mr Ferris says he composed a letter for the nanny to give to her employer to ask about pay and conditions.
She did this the next day and was brought to the airport the following day to be sent back to the Middle East.
The Filipina is bringing complaints under four pieces of labour legislation.
She is claiming her average wage was 22 cent an hour, way below the minimum national wage.
She also claims she is owed over €10,000 in unpaid wages, that her employer failed to furnish her with a contract of employment, that she was refused rest days, that she was given no specified rest days and that she worked in excess of a 48-hour week.
The couple will have the right to dispute the allegations at the hearing.
The Migrants Rights Centre said the problem of exploitation of migrant workers in the private home is widespread and growing in Ireland.
It said that just yesterday two similar cases involving Filipinas came to its attention in Co Waterford.
The centre, and Ictu, has called for the establishment of a domestic workers' joint labour committee.
Since the start of the year the Rights Commissioner at the LRC has issued recommendations relating to two domestic employees.
One employee made complaints under the Payment of Wages Act and the Terms of Employment Act.
The second employee made complaints under these Acts and also the Organisation of Working Time Act.
