A Filipino animator has come forward with allegations of maltreatment while working on a Netflix series for Top Draw Animation, a Filipino animation company with Netflix animated shows like ‘My Little Pony‘ and ‘The Hollow’ under their belt.

Raf de las Alas (Raf Dla on Facebook), who worked on the show Carmen Sandiego about a globe-trotting spy, took to Facebook claiming that he was paid below minimum wage.

‘Long story short, Top Draw payed me below minimum wage and used an “extended training” as an excuse to get work out of me.’, he writes.

lol the season I worked on, coming out in October.Now for some of my own history.I really put up with a lot of crap… Posted by Raf Dla on Friday, September 20, 2019

He further alleged that he was fired for asking for proper compensation as it was supposedly ‘disrupting the positive atmosphere of [the] company’ – a claim he denied.

‘I never made a scene in spite of all they did, because I really wanted to work on this show… it’s something I was passionate about, but I couldn’t ignore the wrongs they were doing either.’

Per The Daily Dot, Raf explained that his post was meant ‘to blow off steam’ and was never meant to go viral. But he stands by his stance that the Philippine animation industry needs ‘genuine change‘ amidst similar horror stories from other creatives:

Reminder that when I worked at an animation studio here in the PH, I was only getting paid 12 PHP(0.23USD)/frame w/o any basic salary AT ALL & w/ deductions (SSS contributions and iirc there was a 10?% tax deductions Somehow) The only bonus I received working there was a burger https://t.co/d001FOAFt8 — 🅱eef (@aschfahI) September 21, 2019

Please when I started out my creative career here in PH i was being paid 9,000 php without benefits. https://t.co/mUm0PJeNXo — Di Siopao pero I #FeelSpecial 🏳️‍🌈 (@BernieTwinkie) September 21, 2019

I heard about the huge pay gap! It’s so fucking unfair! Being an animator was my first passion growing up and if I wasn’t in my current field of practice I’d probably be one. Stuff like this really gets under my skin — Jashin-sama, Harbinger of Doom and fluffy unicorns (@justjashiii) September 21, 2019

Top Draw attempted to lock my friends into a two-year 'internship' deal. Basically college students in two years of slavery. I honestly wonder why this company hasn't been shut down yet. https://t.co/jQd5XgFu55 — ⚡ karmidraws @ Komikon ⚡ (@karmidraws) September 21, 2019

Top Draw exploited me and my friends. We were too overworked and many overtimes staying passed 12 am with no overtime pay. Super below minimum wage 2500 php ($50) per week pay even tho our department position wasn't for entry levels yet we get paid liked entry levels. Cont- https://t.co/hrBOI3PoW8 — In BOTW coma rn 🎮 Cosmania L35 (@Kihoriii) September 21, 2019

In a viral Twitter thread, a user claiming to be Raf’s girlfriend said that Raf was already an employee when he was let go by the studio.

‘He was there for 8 months.’

‘The training was supposed to be 2 months long but they extended it to 5 months for no reason, during which time he had started actually animating on the show, but being paid at the abysmal trainee rate of 120 PHP/second.’

‘He then got promoted to entry level for 2 months, but was fired for voicing his concerns‘

Hi! My boyfriend is the OP. He didn't go into detail because it was a vent post he didn't expect to get traction. He was there for 8 months. The training was supposed to be 2 months long but they extended it to 5 months for no reason– — Noelle 👻 (@ectoplasmentity) September 21, 2019

–during which time he had started actually animating on the show, but being paid at the abysmal trainee rate of 120 PHP/second. He then got promoted to entry level for 2 months, but was fired for voicing his concerns. Essentially he was there for 8 months– — Noelle 👻 (@ectoplasmentity) September 21, 2019

UPDATE: In a statement released on September 23, Top Draw countered that Raf was never an employee, but a trainee who received the benefits that came along with the program.

They furthered that it was his ‘poor attitude‘ and being ‘uncooperative‘ that pushed the studio to terminate his training.

This statement is made in connection to recent misleading and inaccurate online, social media posts directed at the… Posted by Top Draw Animation on Monday, September 23, 2019

The post proceeded to raise more questions than answers for the pvblic, as commentators probed into further details on the legality behind the studio’s labor practices.

Regardless of criticisms on their statement, Top Draw has publicly indicated that they will not be making any further comments regarding the issue.