The Philippines and Singapore have agreed to hold exploratory talks on the hiring and deployment of nurses, medical professionals and other Filipino health care workers under a government-to-government arrangement.
The agreement is contained in a Joint Communique signed Wednesday by Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople and Singaporean Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
“We acknowledge the recognition given by the Singaporean government to the dedication and professionalism of our health workers, especially at the height of the pandemic,” Ople said.
She said the appreciation for Filipino nurses and other health professionals as well as OFWs in other job categories was a recurring theme throughout the duration of the state visit of President Marcos in Singapore.
“Our OFWs in Singapore have truly become ambassadors of goodwill,” Ople said.
The Joint Communique expresses the intent of both countries to:
Explore mechanisms on the number of Filipino Healthcare Workers to be deployed under this Joint Communique;
Launch exploratory discussions on a mutually beneficial deployment arrangement for Filipino Healthcare Workers to be employed in Singapore pursuant to existing laws and regulations;
Affirm the importance of ensuring that the recruitment, protection, deployment, and placement of Filipino Healthcare Workers to be deployed in Singapore is done through legal, transparent and ethical recruitment policies and systems; and
Uphold fair treatment of Filipino Healthcare Workers in Singapore pursuant to existing laws and regulations.
“Singapore provides a good alternative to our health workers who wish to work abroad but in a destination country much nearer to our homeland,” Ople said, adding that the Ministry of Health is interested in discussing training programs and scholarships for Filipino nurses in partnership with Temasek Foundation.