THE Filipino Nurses United (FNU) is pushing for the implementation of P25,000 entry-level salary of nurses in country.
FNU said increasing the entry-level salary of nurses is the only way to ensure that Filipinos will get the healthcare service they deserve.
“The Aquino government should ensure fair treatment of nurses and make available decent nursing jobs so they will opt to stay in the country and serve the Filipino people,” the FNU said.
The group said the dismal working conditions of nurses are unacceptable, adding that many receive as low as P2,000.
“Nurses in private hospitals are given salaries as low as P6,000 monthly. Far worse are the conditions of nurses under the local government units where registered nurses are tagged ‘nurse trainees’ and are given P2,000 monthly allowance with no benefits,” said the FNU.
In addition, the group noted that nurses in the public sector are under constant threat of being laid off due to political patronage.
What is worse, according to FNU, is that the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is looking to address this situation by playing “agent" in selling Filipino nurses to other countries.
“It only underscores the staunch dependence of the Aquino government on Labor Export to address the critical labor problems confronting nurses,” the group added. (HDT)