Filipino nurses who opted to work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong can find themselves new opportunities to practice their profession as a job forum organized by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong will be held in September.
Labor attaché Jalilo dela Torre, whose previous post includes as labor attaché to Australia, said the forum would include registered migration agents from Australia and the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI) so that they can brief the nurses on employment opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Qatar.
Dela Torre said annual salary of entry level nurses can reach up to A$59,000 per year.
“We will also have people from PASEI who are deploying to Germany kasi may mga opening ngayon sa Germany for nurses, and sa Qatar. So, they will talk about the terms and conditions and yung employment opportunities in those countries,” he added.
Dela Torre said the decision to hold the job forum was made after he found out that there are many registered nurses with the minimum two years experience but decided to work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
“May sobrang two years (experience). Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit pumunta pa (dito). Sana nag-apply na lang sa ibang labor market kasi may two years ka na. Nakikita ko sa profile nila,” he said.
Dela Torre said a nursing board exam could be held in Hong Kong next year.
“Next year na kasi yung nursing licensure hindi na-budget ng PRC this year but they’re prepared to do that next year so the earliest we can have is June next year,” he said.
When sought for comment on the opening of Japan market for Filipino housekeepers, Dela Torre was not upbeat at all.
“I’m not really very keen about that kasi mataas nga yung sweldo pero live out. Ang matitira sa iyo halos pareho rin dito (sa Hong Kong). Hindi ko ineencourage,” he said
