Deploy nurses instead of domestic helpers — TUCP

The Philippines has a surplus of nurses and it would be better if government encouraged their deployment abroad and discouraged the deployment of domestic helpers who are more prone to abuse, recommended the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said nurses have better protection since their skills are more difficult to replace compared to domestic helpers, who are more prone to abuse also because they live with their employers.

The group supports the deployment of nurses to better job opportunities overseas.

Herrera made this statement just as he announced that 38% less Filipino nurses have taken the US licensure exam (NCLEX) in July to September 2010 compared to the same period last year. Only 2227 are aiming to work in the US compared to 3,582 in 2009.

There has been a downward trend in the number of Filipinos who take the exam for the first time. Only a total of 7,780 first-time takers were recorded from January to September 2010, 35% less compared to 11,854 in 2009.

Herrera said nurses tend to take other jobs not such as cashiers, baristas, etc while waiting for better opportunities overseas.

He added, however, that the Philippines continues to be among the top sources of new foreign nurses in the US, which include India, South Korea, Canada and Nigeria. –http://www.ofwngayon.com/2010/10/deploy-nurses-domestic-helpers-tucp/