Group to gov’t: Raise nurses’ pay, don’t stop them from working abroad

Instead of discouraging Filipino nurses from working abroad, the government should ensure better benefits for them and start appreciating their valuable contribution to the country, labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) said in a statement on Friday.

Sentro was reacting to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s announcement last week that he was mulling over the possibility of restricting the deployment of Filipino nurses abroad due to the prevailing shortage of nurses in the country, as relayed to him by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA).

“If the government is so concerned about the brain drain in critical jobs like nursing, then it’s about time it took steps to value their work. Raising the minimum wage of our nurses in the public and private sectors is the first step in the right direction,” said Josua Mata, Sentro secretary general.

“By raising the salary of nurses, giving them a safe and positive work environment, and giving them benefits, the government can slow down the process of nurses getting out of the country,” said Dr. Erlinda Palaganas, PNA president.