More Pinoy nurses likely to pass Japan's licensure exam

MANILA, Philippines - More Filipino nurses are likely to pass Japan’s licensure examination and get employed in that country this year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said yesterday.

POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili said the Japanese government has allowed English translation in the licensure examination for foreign nurses, including Filipinos.

“It would be easier for Filipino nurses to understand and pass the examination this February because there would already be English translation,” she said.

Last year, only one Filipino nurse passed  Japan’s licensure examination because the test was purely in Japanese.

Manalili expressed confidence that more Filipino nurses would eventually be hired in Japan.

Japan pledged to hire 1,000 Filipino nurses, but only 300 have been hired so far due to difficulty in complying with the requirements, she added.

Under the agreement between the Philippines and Japan, qualified nurses will undergo six months of language and culture training in Japan during which they will receive an allowance of  $400, or more than P21,000.

After the training, Filipino nurses and caregivers would be allowed to stay in Japan for three years to work in hospitals and other medical facilities.

The language training was intended to prepare the Filipino nurses to eventually take the Japanese licensure examination during their three-year stay in Japan.   

Filipino nurses have three chances to pass the examination, which is given every February. Those who pass the board exam are guaranteed higher salaries.

Meanwhile, the local recruitment industry has disputed the government’s pronouncement of more jobs awaiting Filipinos overseas.

Recruitment leader Lito Soriano said shortage of qualified workers, as well as the new labor polices in Middle East countries, could hamper deployment of Filipino workers abroad.

“Unless the government gears up for massive training and apprentice programs for construction workers the Guam prospects will remain as prospects,” he added.

Soriano said hiring of Filipino professionals has posted a 38 percent drop since 2003, while those of household service workers continue to rise.

Deployment of household workers abroad could hit 150,000 this year, he said.