PH, Germany set pact on the hiring of nurses

The Philippines and Germany will formalize their agreement on the deployment of Philippine nurses to Bonn during the upcoming visit of German Minister for Labor and Social Affairs Ursula von der Leyen to Manila.

Von der Leyen will witness the signing of an agreement between the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the German Federal Employment Agency, International Placement Services (ZAV) to formalize the arrangement.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad recently met with officials of ZAV in Bonn to discuss the deployment of Filipino nurses to Germany and Von der Leyen’s upcoming visit to the Philippines.

Natividad met with Monika Varnhagen, director of the ZAV, and Annette Tigges-Thies, head of the Division for Labor Migration and Work Permits.

Varnhagen briefed Natividad on Germany’s plans to ensure the success of the effort.

Through partner agencies, the ZAV will ensure that Filipino nurses will have adequate linguistic and professional preparation, free of charge, prior to their entry to Germany.

Under the “triple win formula,” the agencies will be responsible for the successful integration of the nurses into the German labor market and in their social environment.

The deployment of Filipino nurses is expected to address the current shortages experienced by German hospitals.

Natividad informed the ZAV officials of the readiness of the Philippines to sign the agreement, particularly the POEA which will be responsible for the implementation.

“It is all systems go for the Triple Win Project. When the agreement is signed, then we have a cooperation framework that enables Filipino nurses to work in Germany,” said Natividad.

She emphasized that the agreement would protect Filipino workers rights. “Under the agreement, Filipino workers may not be employed under working conditions less favorable than those comparable for German workers,” she said.

During her visit to Manila, Von der Leyen will also meet with key Philippine officials. Von der Leyen supervises the ZAV.

The visit marks the commitment of the German side to ensure the successful implementation of the agreement.