The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) has renewed calls to reconsider the deployment cap on Filipino health care workers (HCW) to Germany.
“The deployment of Filipino HCWs in Germany is one of the priorities of the German government under the bilateral relations with the Philippines. We understand that the triple win program has been success, however, we also note that the majority of the health care workers deployed to Germany comes from the private sector deployment,” said German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel in a dialogue with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
“While we see other countries are also responding to this growing need for health care workers in Germany, it is important for us to continue the cooperation with the Philippines in order to keep them the top partner in this sector. Moreover, the German government and the German Embassy are willing and prepared to provide every support that is needed by the qualified HCWs,” he added.
According to the POEA, from January 1, 2021, to November 16, 2021, the Philippine government was able to deploy a total of almost 2,000 nurses bound to Germany – 507 nurses under the triple win project; 1,178 nurses in the private sector; and, 355 under the “balik-manggagawa” program.
The German Chamber remains hopeful that there will be a continued supply of nurses coming from Philippines. The Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has kept the current cap of 6,500 nurses for deployment abroad until the end of 2021 and will review its numbers by January 2022.
“Overseas remittances from Filipino HCWs, as we all know, is one the key drivers of the Philippine economy so it is important for us to reconsider the deployment ban in place. It is important for us to work together, so that the to help the economy to get back on its feet faster and stronger,” said GPCCI executive director Martin Henkelmann.
“¯GPCCI is part of the international network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) which operates from 140 offices in 92 countries.
GPCCI is the official representation of German businesses in the Philippines; a bilateral membership organization with around 300 members; and a service provider to companies in their market entry and expansion.”¯”¯
