Germany is opening its doors to Filipino nurses as the host country plans to hire 600 registered nurses for partner hospitals and elderly care centers, an official announcement on its Facebook page said on Monday, Sept. 5.
The hiring will be done through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) under the Triple Win Project (TWP), a landmark government-to-government agreement signed in 2013 during the Aquino administration.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to send Filipino health care workers, including physiotherapists, radiographers, and occupational therapists, was signed in June 2022 during the Duterte administration.
“To date, the Project has deployed nurses in major hospital partners in Germany. Some of these nurses have already been promoted to higher positions while others are expanding their knowledge by pursuing further academic studies to strengthen their career,” the German Embassy in Manila said in a Facebook post.
According to the Embassy, the TWP was commissioned by the German Federal Employment Agency (ZAV/BA), while the Deutsche Gesellschafts fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting its implementation in partnership with the DMW’s Government Placement Branch (GPB).
“Filipino nurses employed in Germany benefit from the high standards of German labor laws and ample social security system regulations, including health insurance, pension insurance scheme, and unemployment insurance,” the Embassy said in an article posted on its website.
“In terms of remuneration, Filipino nurses will not receive a less favorable treatment than their German colleagues,” it added.
There are currently 6,000 Filipino nurses in Germany. Of this figure, about 2,000 entered Germany through the TWP, and 4,000 through the private track.
As a government-to-government project, being hired through the TWP will cover the following:
• Free German Language training (from A1-B1 level)
• Bonus payment for passing A2 and B1 on first take (250 euro)
• Free translation of recognition documents and certification
• Travel expenses (visa and airfare)
• Assistance in finding suitable accommodation once you are in Germany
The application is open to all Filipino registered nurses. For more information on the qualifications and documentary requirements, interesting applicants can visit the Facebook page of DMW (GPB) and the official announcement posted at https://www.dmw.gov.ph/.
Qualified applicants should register online and secure an appointment at www.dmw.gov.ph or http://onlineservices.dmw.gov.ph/OnlineServices/POEAOnline.aspx
Deadline for submission of applications at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) central office in Ortigas and its regional offices is on Sept. 30, 2022.
The German Embassy said that the shrinking and aging population in the country increases the demand for health care professionals but the local labor market could not address the need.
Health care institutions need to hire nurses from abroad, the Embassy added.
Estimates showed that Germany needs an additional 150,000 to 200,000 professional nurses over the next 10 years, which paved the way for Germany placing nurses on the national shortage occupation list in 2013.