Bello Reveals 600-900 Health Workers Set To Leave PH for Work Abroad

DOLE Chief Bello Appeals To IATF To Allow Some Health Workers To Fly Abroad for Work

BELLO – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III revealed that 600 to 900 health workers are set to work abroad.

The COVID-19 pandemic is shaking the healthcare system of several countries and territories across the globe now. These nations include the Philippines.

PH has recorded 178,022 cases of COVID-19 as of this writing. Out of the said total number, the Department of Health (DOH) said that 114,114 patients have already recovered while 2,883 died of the disease.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, several hospitals have already announced full capacity. Also, some medical workers have contracted the disease in the line of their duties.

VISIT: DOH Reveals 581 Doctors & Nurses Infected w/ COVID-19 in the Philippines

Silvestre Bello III
Photo Credit: Keith Bacongco

Earlier, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has banned the deployment of Filipino health workers abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, DOLE Chief Silvestre Bello III said that Secretary Carlito Galvez and DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III are worried that many experienced health workers may be leaving the country.

Meanwhile, Bello said that the ban on the deployment of health workers abroad got exemptions. According to the report, he is appealing to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to allow the 600 to 900 health workers who have already completed their documents to fly abroad for work.

According to the DOLE Chief, the exemptions of the ban includes those who have already signed a contract, got a visa, and bought a ticket. He also cited the cases of health workers who went home just for a vacation but were not able to return abroad due to the lockdown.

Apart from appealing to the IATF, the Labor Chief also aired an appeal to private hospitals regarding nurses and health workers’ salary. He cited that some of them work beyond 10 hours.

“Unang-una siguro is to appeal to these hospital na they should consider giving a higher compensation knowing the value of the services of their nurses and medical workers. Some of them work for 10 to 12 hours,” he expressed.

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