:: Malaya - The National Newspaper ::

MONDAY |MAY 11, 2009 | PHILIPPINES

ABOUT US | SUBSCRIBE | WRITE US | ADVERTISE | ARCHIVES

 

1st batch of JPEPA
health workers leave


BY JAY CHUA

TWO hundred nurses and caregivers left for Japan early morning yesterday, the first batch of health workers benefiting from the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement.

Seventy more workers followed in the afternoon to pursue a training program, including language training for six months, in preparation for deployment in their hiring institutions.

The workers applied through the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services, the counterpart body of the Philippine Overseas Workers Administration.

The workers are classified as candidate nurses and caregivers until they pass licensure examinations.

The first licensure examination for nurses is scheduled in February 2010. The test will be administered every year after that.

Candidate caregivers need at least three years of work experience before they can take the national certification examination.

The health workers’ contracts are initially for three years. After passing licensing examinations, they will be allowed to stay indefinitely.

They will receive an average salary of 170,000 yen a month. This is equivalent to P75,000 per month, but after board and lodging expenses are deducted, the net comes to P60,000.

Up to 1,000 workers are expected to leave for Japan in the next three years.

In yesterday’s batch was Sheillane Reyes, a nursing graduate who first went to Japan to work in an electronics factory as an inspector of touch panels for computers.

She went home four years ago after her contract expired.

"No, I don’t want to marry a Japanese," Reyes said when asked about the possibility of marrying a Japanese.

"They are not sweet, all they know is work," she said.

Although Japanese are kind and courteous, she said, their work ethic makes them too tired to look after their wife when they come home.

"That’s why husband and wife in Japan live in separate bedrooms, so that he would not be bothered while sleeping," she said.

Nicole Tornis Alcuaz, a 33-year-old nurse from Quezon City, said a Japanese husband is not a bad proposition.

"Wish ko lang!" she said.

Of the 273 health workers, only three are male.

Rey Bryan Pica, 25, said the reason is there is a rule in Japan pegging the ratio of caregivers at 7 males to 30-40 females.

 


     TOP NEWS

8 quizzed on WB $33M road bid rigging

AFP says hostage likely stashed by Abus

1st batch of JPEPA health workers leave

Flu-affected countries rise to 29; RP stays free

Fans may now hug, kiss Manny

Sicat is new PSE chair

36 left dead by ‘Emong’; 30T families affected


    METRO NEWS

Step up anti-Red campaign, Ibrado tells soldiers

Arroyo edict places geothermal concerns under DOE





Please address comments and suggestions to the Webmaster.
COPYRIGHT 2004 © People's Independent Media Inc.