Over 1,000 Pinoy nurses bound for Germany ask gov't to lift deployment ban

Over 1,000 Filipino nurses who have snagged employment in Germany are appealing to the government to lift the deployment ban on heath workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report on Unang Balita said the nurses, some of whom have been unemployed for two years already, have already secured themselves visas to work in Germany.

At present, only healthcare workers with overseas employment certificates and verified work contracts as of March 8, 2020 are exempted from the deployment ban.

Also exempted are vacationing health workers with existing job contracts abroad.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they have already brought the matter to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAFT) and is just awaiting its decision.

“Ang tamang term, temporary suspension of deployment. May exemption, iyong mga kumpleto na ang papeles as of March 8, saka iyong mga balik manggagawa,” Bello said.

“Bukod sa Germany, temporary suspension of deployment naman sa lahat,” he added.

According to Bello, around 1,200 nurses will be able to go abroad if the temporary ban will be lifted for those who secured requirements by August 31. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News