Nurses and Engineers: Increased Job Opportunities in New Zealand and Australia

Saw an article on Manila Bulletin recently that says nurses and engineers are still being welcomed in New Zealand and Australia with increasing demand for overseas workers. This came with the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA). Aren't they lucky! I think I'm in the wrong line of work

Last week, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to raise awareness on the benefits of the agreement to the Cebu business community through a seminar held here.

According to the agreement, New Zealand will allow up to 100 Philippine nurses to work there as registered nurses at any one time for a period of three years.

Nurses will be given working visas even while they are undergoing the required bridging courses and exam.

New Zealand will also allow up to 20 Philippine farm managers and 20 Philippine engineering professionals to enter the country at any one time for a period of three years.

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Andrew Matheson disclosed that the New Zealand government has also agreed to work with the Philippines to help develop the local dairy industry, an industry that currently supplies only about one percent of this country’s demand.

New Zealand and the Philippines may also enter into negotiations for a reciprocal working holiday scheme open to up to 100 citizens of each country. This will allow young people to stay for up to a year and work to support their extended vacation.

The Ambassador also announced that New Zealand, subject to certain conditions, would allow the entry of independent professional service suppliers for up to one year, and entry of business visitors, installers or servicers for up to three months in any calendar year.

“The trade negotiators have done their jobs and it is now up to businesses to take advantage of this agreement and let the benefits of the AANZFTA flow through to businesses and consumers,” said Matheson.

Labor Agreement With Finland In The Works - To Open Job For More Filipino Nurses

We're about to lose more Filipino nurses in the Philippines because Finland is about to open its doors to Filipino nurses. Not that we have any left... Apparently there is a shortage of nurses in Finland as well.

Philippine Ambassador to Sweden Maria Zeneida Collinson said Finnish officials accepted her proposal to send a Philippine labor mission to Finland before the yearend to discuss the possible need for a bilateral labor agreement according to Inquirer

According to the DFA, Finland is widely expected to be one of the first European countries to experience a demographic shock as an estimated 900,000 of its "baby boom" generation reach retirement age within the next 12 years.

"With insufficient birth rates to offset the country's rapidly aging population, the ensuing decline in the working-age population is predicted to lead to rising pensions and deteriorating healthcare services," it said.

Tips And Advice For US-bound Nurses. Essentials For Filipino Nurses Who Want To Work Abroad

Here are tips for US bound nurses by Danny Fernandez of OFWGuide Forum

Get Your Social Security Number (SSN): It is important to apply for SSN upon arriving in the US at the Social Security Office near your place of deployment. You may seek the help of the Human Resource Department of the hospital where you will work. Most State Boards requires the SSN to get your permanent nurse license, be a registered rurse and practice your profession. Without the SSN, you may not be able to secure your license and will not be allowed to work. Securing SSN takes between 10 to 30 working days while the processing for the RN License takes 30 to 90 days.

Don’t Overspend: The contract you signed in the Philippines may include a clause stating that for the first 90 days of your stay in US, the hiring hospital will provide for your needs and you will receive an allowance or stipend. The usual stipend is USD 1500 to USD 2000.

The stipend may seem like a large amount but the truth is, it will barely cover your expenses. Normally, the accommodation they provide is a one-room apartment with free water and electricity. It has a stove, ref, sofa, TV, and a bed. You need to buy your utensils, plates, spoon, fork, bed sheets, food, and other personal items. Some hospitals have these things included in the package but some do not. It is a must to inquire about these matter to your agency. You need to spend frugally until you earn your first paycheck. Until then, you have to live with the stipend unless you brought some pocket money before leaving the Philippines.

Learn to Drive in the Philippines: If you can, you need to learn to drive and secure a driving license in the Philippines. Knowing how to drive in the US is not a luxury but a necessity. There are public transport facilities available but it is very time consuming and inconvenient to wait for buses, and taxis at times. When you have a Philippine driver’s license, some State allows you to drive for one year as long as your license is valid. Another thing is, if you provide a Philippine driver’s license when you apply for a driver’s License in the US, you are exempted to take the drug test. On top of these, you will also have a big edge in passing the driving test. It is also lot easier and less expensive to learn to drive in the Philippines than learning it in the US.

Learn about the US Hospital Environment: The Philippine Hospital environment is totally different from those in the US, from the way they treat their patients, the patients themselves, the equipment used, and the procedures. Don't be fooled of the patient-nurse ratio of five patients to one nurse in the US against forty patients to one nurse in the Philippines. The procedure necessary for you to handle five patients in the US exceeds the procedure in handling forty patients in the Philippines. The documentations alone consumes so much time. You need to be ready for this. Orientation period is usually six weeks (on the floor) after the classroom orientation. You need focus and alertness on the work floor. It appears that it is during the orientation that you will experience difficulty but will soon get use to it in no time.

Practice Talking and Listening in English: You need to be adept in English comprehension. This should be easy because Filipinos are very good in English. However, the way Americans speak English is different from the way we do in terms of pronunciation and accent. Many foreign nurses find it difficult to understand doctor’s orders. The key solution is practice. The more you practice, the easier it would be for you.

Image from Philamllc.com