DUBAI: Approximately six of every 10 nurses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
They are here to escape the low salary level for nurses in the Philippines; and for the opportunity to eventually work in the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, among other choices, because standards in the UAE are at par with what those countries have.
The trail starts with the nursing professional making a decision to go to the UAE through an employment visa. There are some who first came on a visit visa and eventually got a job and secured an employment visa. (Note that working while on visit visa is not allowed in the UAE).
After gaining years of experience, they set things in motion for another set of experience — this time, in other continents. The first step usually is to pass English proficiency test.
Non-board passers – or “underboards” – on the other hand, take a longer route as they have to pass the Philippine’s Professional Regulation Commissions Special Professional Licensure Examinations (PRC-SPLE) as a pre-requisite.
A nursing SPLE is scheduled in Abu Dhabi from Aug. 12 to 14 this year with some 81 participants, it was gathered.
20,000 OFW nurses in UAE
According to Raymond Datinggaling, head of the Filipino Nurses’ Association in the Emirates (FNAE), there approximately are over 20,000 Filipino nurses working in the UAE government and private sector, including homecare companies.
The group said the number of OFW nurses in the UAE represents approximately 60% of the overall total which, officials said, is around 33,300.
According to the Federal Statistics and Competitive Authority, there were 79 hospitals, 10,165 physicians and 16,882 nurses in the UAE private sector a few years back. The agency also said there were 36 hospitals, 6,504 physicians and 16,547 nurses in the government sector.
Preferred
Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said there is an apparent preference for Filipino nurses in the UAE because they “embody the excellent and sterling repute of the Filipino professional.”
Datinggaling attributed the huge number of OFW nurses in the UAE to the fact that it is a lot easier to be in the country – visit visa would suffice – compared to other countries like the US, Canada or those in Europe.
“The easiest way to go work abroad is through the UAE. In Europe, maraming requirements. Then from here, they springboard to other countries,” Datinggaling said.
Int’l recruitment hub
Amy Miranda, a registered nurse and midwife who also is adviser of the Philippine Nurses Association – Dubai and Northern Emirates (PNA – DNE); and an FNAE member, said the UAE has evolved into a recruitment central of sort for Filipino nurses.
“The UAE is acting as a hub for international nursing recruitment for UK, US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and so on.
“The UAE follows best international practices that match those in other western countries, not to mention its diverse culture. That is why a high number of Filipino nurses prefer the UAE as one of the top destinations to work in,” Miranda explained in a mix of Filipino and English.
She also said matter-of-factly that there even were organized efforts from some recruitment companies.
“Yes, there are agencies that coordinate with our group for international recruitment,” Miranda said.
Plus factor
Teresa Galang Lareza, current PNA-DNE president, said it is a plus factor for a nurse to have been worked in the UAE.
She explained: “Being a nurse here in the UAE helps them develop and grow personally and professionally. Their experience here will equip them with advance knowledge and skills when it comes to nursing practice.”
“In addition, dealing with the UAE’s multi-cultural, multi-lingual society is another added factor to their SKA (Skills, Knowledge and Attitude),” Lareza said.
Huge US demand
Meantime, Datinggaling said the demand for more nurses in the UAE has recently increased because seasoned ones have gone to the US.
The demand for nurses in the US is outpacing supply. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.2 million vacancies will emerge for registered nurses between 2014 and 2022, the Boston-based Atlantic Monthly has reported.
Still according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of registered nurses in America in 2017 amounted to $70,000 (P3.66 million) per year, or $33.65 (P1,760) per hour.
UK perks
Filipino nurses also prefer to work in the UK because registered nurses there can bring their families with them and as well avail of free health care and education, according to Matthew Richards, recruitment chief at Kings Commercial, which is engaged in the selection of nurses in the UK.
Richards told ABS-CBN that nurses in the UK earn about EUR 22,100 annually, or P110,000 per month.
Philippine situation
Meantime back home, government nurses receive Php8,000-Php13,000 for entry-level posts – which is reason why a lawmaker in the upper house has introduced legislation to have entry-level for government nurses pegged at up to Php30,500.
Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan, in his Senate Bill 260, is seeking entry-level nurses to receive a salary not lower than Salary Grade 15 (SG-15) or equivalent to P30,531.
Registered nurses in the Philippines work long shifts and are required to go through On The Job trainings before they are hired.
The Philippines is “the largest exporter of nurses globally, with roughly 25 percent of all overseas nurses worldwide,” according to Rev. Arnedo S. Valera, a US-based Filipino lawyer, adding that “about 85 percent of employed Filipino nurses work in more than 50 countries.”
