Japan needs Pinoy nurses, caregivers

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino nurses, caregivers and factory workers can look forward to more jobs in Japan and South Korea.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Jennifer Manalili said the government hopes to deploy more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Japan and South Korea this year.

“The number of those to be hired will depend on the need of hospitals in Japan, but we hope to capture the remaining 700 slots,” Manalili disclosed.

She noted that medical facilities have given positive assessment for the first batch of health workers.

Manalili noted that the country initially deployed early last year 283 Filipino nurses and caregivers to Japan.

The Philippine and Japanese governments have agreed to facilitate the hiring of at least 1,000 Filipino nurses and caregivers.

POEA officials said six of those who were deployed last year were unable to complete their contract, but they are now undertaking efforts to prevent similar problems.

“We have improved our screening process,” officials said.

Meanwhile, Manalili announced that POEA would soon start the pre-employment orientation for the second batch of Filipino nurses and caregivers to be deployed in Japan.

She said those who have registered online and maintained active status through the POEA e-registration system will go through the orientation.

Qualified applicants have until Jan. 15 to register online and the first to complete documents will be given priority.

Manalili also advised those aspiring to work in South Korea to register for the Korean Language Test (KLT).

She said applicants may register online and POEA will notify the pre-qualified applicants in early January.

South Korea is hiring about 6,000 factory workers. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)