Exploitation of Pinoy nurses exposed

By M. Fernandez

This scandal was first exposed in May 2005 by the national nursing magazine, Kati Tiaki Nursing New Zealand.

“Filipino nurses, most of whom are too afraid to be identified, have endured a range of abusive and exploitative practice,” says the NZNO.

Two immigration agencies have charged exorbitant fees to place Filipino nurses in jobs and in one case nurses have had to continue paying a considerable sum to the agent from their earnings, once employed in New Zealand.

In another case, an immigration agent has retained the nurses’ passports and original nursing documentation, despite repeated requests for their return.

In the case of the aged-care provider, the Filipino nurses are paid less than other registered nurses at the workplace, receive no penal payments and are constantly rostered on those shifts notoriously difficult to fill, i.e. weekend, afternoon and night shifts.

The Filipino nurses’ contracts state they are to work in any of the provider’s facilities throughout the country.

“A New Zealand nurse who has worked alongside Filipino nurses at the aged-care facility said she was “ashamed and embarrassed” to be a New Zealander because of the exploitation of the nurses.”

The Department of Labour says there is anecdotal evidence which suggest there may be unscrupulous immigration advisers acting on behalf of Filipino nurses, the article states.

Why pay agents up to $5,000 to work over here?

By Bill Harrison

Julie Ann de la Rosa–Makiling: Immediate Past President (2005-06), Philippine Nurses Society of New Zealand: “Our people learn fast and achieve well. So rather than gaining jobs through costly agencies, the applicants could make their own contact with a kiwi-based job or go through the Nursing Council of New Zealand.”

“Instead, many pay agencies up to $5,OOO to get themselves here.”

Despite the incoming nurses’ prior hospital experience, the agencies often place them into less invigorating nursing home-style roles. This, because as contracted intermediaries, the agencies are pre-committed to source staff for the homes. Once in NZ, all nurses complete a two-month polytechnic-based bridging course.

A Wellington-based wife and mother of two, Julie-Ann is a staff nurse in the coronary care unit of Hutt Valley District Health Board.

Julie Ann: Once here the ongoing celebrations include: “We have a voice here, our opinions are sought. Nurses are not handmaidens to doctors as they are in the Philippines.” Also teaching patients self-care Julie Ann noted: “We guide the young doctors regarding the protocol of our unit which includes entrustment in the nurses to oversee cares on patients with chest discomfort. Only if they are not pain-free afterwards, is doctors’ attention sought.”

Ward life is not only free of racial discrimination but more like an ongoing professional and cultural exchange.

Our adjustment to the kiwi way includes the more in-depth procedures around IV injections.

“In return there is friendly interest in the styles of Philippine lunch we bring in for ourselves.” This would include ‘longanisa’ a spicy, semi-sweet grilled sausage. Julie-Ann came early in the new millennium from the Isle of Cebu in central Visayas. In 1999 two years prior, Hutt Valley’s then-local Philippine nurses were urged by a priest to bloom their camaraderie into a fully incorporated society.

So with Julie Ann as a near-charter member and now with about 50 fellows aboard, the enclave channels much of its energy into helping newcomers literally bed-into their NZ venture.

Suggestions are aimed at good accommodation and the buying of vehicles etc. Once monthly at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, the nurses host a monitoring of vital signs and blood sugar levels.

Julie Ann added:“Toughest, is missing wider family. Also, returning home after a busy ward-shift, to a household needing cleaning and laundry done.”

Back in the Philippines there would have been hired home help.

“But, we gain NZ. This is a peaceful and friendly place where work and pay are a thousand times better than all we have left behind.”