Filipino Nurses Abroad are Exposed to Swine Flu H1N1 Virus
The Philippine government is short of issuing a global advisory to Filipinos, most especially Filipino nurses and other healthworkers, to avoid travel to countries with swine flu cases to prevent the further spread of the virus in the Philippines and other parts of the globe. However, the migration to other countries and coming back for vacation continues everyday.
The government has advised to temporarily avoid unnecessary travel more particularly to the United States and Mexico. As of this time, no reported Filipino nationals have been infected with the virus anywhere in the world. However, the Philippine government is still concerned with the possible spread of the virus that could infect thousands of Filipino nurses working abroad.
Among the precautionary measures included in the advisory are to avoid congested areas, to regularly wash hands, consultation with a general practitioner when possible symptoms of the virus starts like coughs, sore throat, headaches and muscle pain.
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No Layoffs for Filipino Nurses and other OFWs in France
There is an estimated 40,000 overseas Filipino workers in France, mostly health professionals such as Pinoy nurses and caregivers privately employed by families. The new French envoy to Manila Thierry Borja De Mozota has said French employers are keeping their jobs despite the layoffs in many parts of the world caused by global recession.
“At the moment, there is no sign of reduction of workers of families in France. They are not working for companies, so there is no reason for them to lose their jobs,” he told reporters during a reception in his residence in Makati recently.
The new ambassador said that the French government recognizes the contribution of the Filipino community to the French economy. However, raised concern on the estimated 33,000 undocumented OFWs working and living in France. Thus, part of the plans of his new office is to work on a bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and France that would allow Filipino workers in France to obtain their legal working permits.
“This agreement would give undocumented Filipino workers in France a chance to legalize their stay. This will ensure that Filipinos already in France will be provided an avenue to get working permit as soon as they ask for it,” he said.
The two governments having been trying to seal a labor deal for the past 2 years that aims to attract professionals like nurses and doctors, as well as those fashion designers and entrepreneurs, into France.
This would open up new opportunities to those Filipino nurses who wants to work in Europe.
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President Arroyo Urged the Arab Employers to Hire More Filipino Nurses & Others
President Arroyo goes to work in her two-day working visit in Dubai to encourage Arab employers to hire more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), meet with the Filipino community in the Arab state, and pay a visit to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
Thousands of OFWs (as well as those hoping to get out of the country soon) expressed hope that the two-day visit to Dubai by Mrs. Arroyo and a delegation of labor officials will secure their jobs there and create more employment opportunities in the host country for Filipinos.
Labor officials headed by Labor Secretary Marianito Roque had arranged a meeting with foreign principals beginning yesterday until today in Dubai where they planned to discuss more job openings for OFWs. The top agenda of the meeting is the set of strategies on how the government could fill up the job vacancies for Filipino skilled workers and professionals in Dubai.
This year alone, she said more than 100,000 jobs are available in the Middle East for construction workers, engineers, architects, and medical workers such as nurses and caregivers. However, the recruitment industry warned OFWs seeking employment in Dubai to verify from their prospective employer first if a working visa or permit will be issued to them before they depart for the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates.
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The Philippine Government Should Sign More Bilateral Agreement Abroad for Pinoy Nurses
The Philippine government should struck more win-win deals with foreign countries interested in our Filipino nurses as well as other health professionals according to former DOH Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan.
In his keynote speech during the 27th anniversary of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD-DoST), Tan said there is a need for international support for ethical framework of recruitment, citing the high demand for Filipino nurses abroad.
You will note that not many Pinoys are happy with the JPEPA deal with Japan citing that this is too onerous to the Philippines and more one sided in favor of Japan. Although this is the case, the Agreement was implemented amidst protest to it.
Mr. Tan added that the Philippine government is forging now a joint or multi-country research data and action program on health human resource development among importing and exporting countries. He also hope that this year, we will be able to establish a Philippines-Canada, Philippines-Finland, and Philippines-Bahrain trust fund for human resource development given that these countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippine government as equity partners in International Health Care in 2007 to 2008.
We are also hoping for the best. Kudos to Dr. Tan for his continuous support for Pinoy Nurses and healthworkers.
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