More nurses jobs seen in Asean accord

Amid allegations of massive cheating in the 2006 nursing licensure examinations last June, Filipino nurses may look forward to having more employment opportunitiies in other Southeast Asian countries.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines secretary general and former senator Ernesto Herrera Jr. said an accord among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — set for signing in December — will ease restrictions in the employment of Filipino nurses in Asean-member countries.

"Our nurses can count on easier access to the lucrative job markets of ASEAN members once the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Nursing Services comes into force," Herrera said.

The traditional foreign employment destinations of Filipino nurses are the United States, countries in Western Europe and the Middle East.

The local nursing industry shuddered from allegations that review centers, reportedly in connivance with some nursing schools, leaked the answers to some examination questions. The scandal was said to have prompted some local and foreign hospitals to reject applicants from batch 2006.

The agreement "essentially means that Philippine-licensed nurses will automatically be recognized as nurse practitioners by ASEAN members," according to Herrera.

"Our nurses can count on easier access to the lucrative job markets of ASEAN members once the Mutual Recognition Agreement on Nursing Services comes into force," he added.

The agreement is expected to be signed during the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu in December. Asean comprises Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

"This (agreement signing) means our nurses do not have to take the national licensure examinations of other Asean members to be able to practice in those countries," Herrera sad.

"Right now, for instance, Singapore recognizes nurses from Malaysia and Brunei but the city-state does not recognize nurses from the Philippines," he said.

For Philippine-licensed nurses to be able to work in Singapore, they have to pass its eligibility test similar to the United States’ National Council Licensure Examination for nursing. There are around 4,000 Filipino nursing practitoners in Singapore.