PH, Germany sign joint declaration of interest on hiring Pinoy workers

Skilled Filipinos and those working in the hospitality industry might soon find themselves applying for a job in Germany after the Philippines and Germany signed a joint declaration of interest on the recruitment of more Filipino workers.

(German Embassy Manila/Facebook)

Germany has expressed interest in hiring not only Filipino nurses, but also other skilled workers like engineers and those in the hospitality industry, a statement from Malacañang quoted Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne Caunan on Saturday, Jan. 13.

Caunan was a guest in a media forum held in Quezon City.

The current Triple Win Program of Germany in the Philippines has the primary objective of recruiting Filipino nurses to address a shortage there.

“Kung maalala ninyo po ay mayroon na po tayong deployment to Germany, actually last po sinelebreyt iyong 10th year anniversary ng Triple Win Program which is iyon ang parang kumbaga naging pasimula naging benchmark pagdating sa government-to-government recruitment ng nurses. Ito ay nangyari 10 years ago pa (If you can remember, we have a deployment to Germany, which we actually celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the Triple Win Program that became a benchmark in government-to-government recruitment of nurses. This happened 10 years ago),” she explained.

This time, Germany will explore extending the same opportunities for Filipino skilled workers and those in the hospitality sector, the official added.

The Triple Win Program between the two countries aimed to address the shortage of nurses in Germany by recruiting nurses from countries like the Philippines, Bosnia ang Herzegovina, Tunisia, Indonesia, Jordan, and India.

It is a project between the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and offers the following benefits for Filipino nurses: work placement in Germany according to local conditions, preparatory support in learning German language and nursing skills, and support with the immigration and integration process.

Caunan, however, highlighted that Germany’s interest in employing Filipinos would be different this time because it would be a “win-win situation.”

“At ang isa pa pong naging magandang part nitong joint declaration natin of interest ay iyong tinatawag namin ngayon win-win situation kung saan no less [than] the President said na hindi naman puwedeng basta kumukuha lamang ng mga Filipino workers ang mga bansang ito sa atin at hindi sila nagiging parte ng solusyon sa pagkakaroon ng more–for example nurses dito sa ating bansa (One of the good parts of our joint declaration of interest is what we call win-win situation because no less than the President said that these countries can’t just take our nurses and not be a part of the solution of having—for example nurses here in the country),” she said.

Aside from Germany, the Philippines also signed agreements with Canada and Austria to address the shortage of both nursing workforce and teaching staff for the nursing profession.

“Naka-focus po ang Department of Migrant Workers, doon sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga bansang ito upang tumulong sila, lalung-lalo na po sa pag-address ng nursing shortage sa bansa (The Department of Migrant Workers is focused on coordinating with these countries so they can help, especially in addressing the nursing shortage in the country,” Caunan added.

These agreements are also expected to provide scholarships and improve hospital facilities, training facilities, and faculty development in the Philippines.