The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has awarded almost $56,000 to a Filipino nanny who was underfed, humiliated, and even forced to perform sex acts while living with a family in Richmond.

The woman, identified only as PN in the case, previously worked for the family in Hong Kong, and was invited to join them in Canada while they searched for a home to purchase in July 2013.

After they arrived, PN was treated like “a virtual slave” for six weeks before she managed to escape, according to tribunal member Catherine McCreary’s decision.

“She had to perform sexual acts at the whim and insistence of her employer, she was humiliated and degraded by her other employer, and she was even made fun of by the children who were in her care,” McCreary said.

The family – a husband, wife, and two children – spent the entire month-and-a-half living in a two-bedroom hotel room near Vancouver International Airport, and PN was made to sleep on a couch with very little privacy.

The husband sexually assaulted the nanny on a number of occasions, according to the tribunal’s decision, and the wife only let her eat food with permission. She also called her names like “garbage,” “stupid,” and “evil.”

PN claimed she was worked from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days, for the equivalent of about $600 a month.

The nanny’s lawyer, Devyn Cousineau, said her client was also told to sign a contract stating that if she quit, she’d have to repay the family for her visa and plane tickets, which amounted to about four months’ wages.

“Virtually every aspect of her employment, including the contract, was exploitation that amounts to discrimination,” McCreary said in her decision.

Eventually, the nanny made the decision to flee, despite having no money, passport, or extra clothing. Fortunately, she met up with a Filipino community, who helped her get to a safe house for human trafficking victims run by the Salvation Army.

“The fact that she was able to come forward is really unbelievable,” Cousineau said, adding that she’s hopeful the story will encourage other victims to come forward.

“[This case] is the tip of the iceberg in terms of who’s out there.”

Since her escape, PN has suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, including nightmares and flashbacks, according to the decision.

The tribunal found that she’s entitled to almost $6,000 in wages, as well as $50,000 for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Alex Turner