A 35-year-old Filipina domestic helper named Nely Gemologa is currently hospitalized after being hit by a car in Fortress Hill. The incident occurred as she was rushing to deliver food to her ailing employer at Tseung Kwan O hospital during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Nely, who had only started working for her employer five days prior to the accident, suffered internal bleeding and a broken pelvic bone, leaving her unable to walk on her own.
Recalling the incident, Nely expressed her excitement to bring food to her employer, which led her to hastily cross the road without noticing the approaching car. Unfortunately, she was already facing other challenges at the time, including a sibling who had fallen into a cave in their hometown, a daughter who was hospitalized for a suspected kidney problem, and the recent passing of her grandfather.
Despite having worked in Hong Kong for five years, Nely had recently moved to her current employer, which means she has yet to receive a salary and may not be entitled to sick leave allowance. Additionally, she fears that she may be dismissed from her job once she is discharged from the hospital, leaving her in a dire financial situation to support her own medical needs and those of her family members.
Nely has been alone during her hospital stay, having been transferred to four different hospitals, namely Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, and currently Adventist Hospital in Tsuen Wan, where she is undergoing physiotherapy. Due to her employer's illness, Nely has not had the chance to see her since being admitted. However, she has received some visitors, including Beth Lizardo from the foreign domestic helpers' group Social Justice for Migrant Workers and a Filipino resident known as Iron Rock Jermice, who kindly provided her with a wheelchair.
According to reports, Nely has reached out for assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, expressing her uncertainty about what steps to take once she is allowed to leave the hospital. She also wants to make it known that there are no visiting hours at her current hospital, and she welcomes anyone who wishes to offer help and support.
Nely hopes to continue working in Hong Kong if possible, as she is desperate for employment. However, if that is not feasible, she wishes to receive some form of salary compensation, acknowledging her own contributory negligence in the accident.
In the midst of her difficulties, Nely discovered the possibility of obtaining compensation from a little-known fund administered by the Social Welfare Department for traffic accident victims in Hong Kong. The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme provides compensation for victims who reported the accident to the police, had legal permission to stay in Hong Kong at the time, applied within six months after the incident, and either sustained permanent disability, died, or were hospitalized for at least three days.
Additionally, Nely could explore applying for payment under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, which requires employers to compensate employees for work-related injuries based on factors such as age, salary, and the extent of the injuries.
Navigating through these processes and seeking the assistance she needs, Nely is urging staff at the Consulate and migrant support organizations to visit her as soon as possible. She can be contacted directly at Adventist Hospital in Tsuen Wan or through the Facebook account of Social Justice for Migrant Workers, care of administrator Beth Lizardo.
菲律宾女佣农历新年期间被车撞寻求帮助
35岁菲律宾女佣Nely Gemologa在炮台山被车撞伤,现正住院治疗。 事件发生时,她正值农历新年期间赶往将军澳医院向生病的雇主送食物。 事故发生前五天,内莉才开始为雇主工作,她内出血,骨盆骨骨折,导致她无法自行行走。
回忆起这起事件,内莉表示,她很兴奋地给雇主送食物,这导致她匆忙过马路,没有注意到驶来的汽车。 不幸的是,她当时已经面临着其他挑战,包括一个兄弟姐妹在家乡掉进一个山洞,一个女儿因疑似肾脏问题住院,以及最近去世的祖父。
尽管Nely在香港工作了五年,但她最近搬到了现在的雇主,这意味着她尚未领取工资,也可能无法享受病假津贴。 此外,她担心出院后她可能会被解雇,从而使她陷入困境,无法满足自己和家人的医疗需求。
Nely住院期间一直孤身一人,先后转院至四间不同医院,包括湾仔律敦治医院、东区尤德夫人那打素医院、将军澳医院,以及现时在荃湾港安医院接受物理治疗。 由于雇主生病,Nely 自从入院以来就没有机会见到她。 不过,她也接待了一些访客,其中包括来自外籍家庭佣工组织“外劳社会正义”的 Beth Lizardo,以及一位名叫 Iron Rock Jermice 的菲律宾居民,后者好心为她提供了轮椅。
据报道,内利已向海外工人福利管理局寻求帮助,表示她不确定一旦获准出院,该采取什么措施。 她还想让大家知道,她目前所在的医院没有探视时间,她欢迎任何愿意提供帮助和支持的人。
如果可能的话,Nely 希望继续在香港工作,因为她迫切需要就业。 然而,如果这不可行,她希望获得某种形式的工资补偿,并承认自己在事故中的过失。
在困难中,Nely发现可以从社会福利署管理的一个鲜为人知的香港交通事故受害者基金中获得赔偿。 交通意外受害人援助计划为向警方报案、当时已获合法居留香港许可、在事故发生后六个月内提出申请、且遭受永久性伤残、死亡或入院治疗的受害人提供赔偿。 至少三天。
此外,Nely可以探索根据《雇员补偿条例》申请付款,该条例要求雇主根据雇员的年龄、薪水和受伤程度等因素,对雇员因工受伤给予补偿。
通过这些流程并寻求她需要的帮助,内利敦促领事馆和移民支持组织的工作人员尽快拜访她。 您可以直接在荃湾港安医院联系她,也可以通过管理员 Beth Lizardo 照顾的外劳社会正义 Facebook 帐户联系她。
留言