Salary Standardization Law Passed Lowering Gov't Nurses Pay to Salary Grade 11

The congress, last week, approved a new law lowering the mandated salary of goverment nurses to Salary Grade 11 from Salary Grade 15 as originally stipulated in the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (R.A. 9173).

This means that the prescribed salary of nurses working in the public sector will be standardized at Php12,000 per month with increases worth Php6,000 spread over a four-year period. The new Salary Standadization Law effectively amends the salary provision in R.A. 9173 providing for a Php25,000 starting monthly salary for government nurses.

The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), through PNA National President Teresita Irigo-Barcelo, issued a statement decrying the new law. It said that the Salary Standadization Law denies filipino registered nurses of their right to humane salaries elaborating that in the last seven (7) years, the government has deprived government nurses of their right to Salary Grade 15 as mandated in the Nursing Law (Republic Act 9173).

The PNA president also warned that this move would result to more nurses seeking employment abroad.

House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles said the new pay rate will be implemented in July.

Related Link

• Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (R.A. 9173)

Bill Prohibiting Hospitals from Collecting Training Fees from Nurses Introduced

A bill has been filed in the lower house of congress seeking to prohibit the collection of fees by hospitals from nurses who apply for training or volunteer work in their institutions.

House Bill 5985, introduced by Laguna 4th District Representative Edgar San Luis, also proposes a penalty of imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine of not more than P100,000 to those found guilty of exploiting nurse trainees/volunteers.

The proposed legislation further mandates hospitals to pay nurse trainees monthly salaries for services already rendered. Any fees previously collected must also be refunded, in full, to the nurse with 6% annual interest.

In a statement published at the House of Representatives' website, Rep. Edgar San Luis said, "No matter how the hospital administrators call the pernicious practice—training, skills building, volunteer work or whatever—what they are doing is plain and simple exploitation."

Dr. Lea Paquiz, in her capacity as Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) President, revealed last year that several government and private hospitals have been exploiting nurses by not filling in vacant positions instead hiring unpaid nursing trainees/volunteers while charging them so-called training fees.

Related Article:
PNA Slams Hospitals for Requiring Nurses to Pay Training Fees

Trade Agreement Allowing Entry of Filipino Nurses to Japan Ratified by Philippine Senate

In a vote of 16-4, the Philippine Senate on Wednesday ratified the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) which, among others, provides for the hiring of 400 filipino nurses and 600 caregivers by Japanese healthcare facilities.

However, several militant groups have been opposing the trade pact between the Philippines and Japan saying it is lopsided in favor of Japan as it allows the entry of toxic wastes from Japan to the Philippines.

The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), in its position paper written by PNA President Leah Paquiz in September last year, said that the agreement undermines the professionalism and dignity of filipino registered nurses.

"Even with a bachelor’s degree earned from four years of higher education in the Philippines, proof of competence by virtue of having passed the Philippine Licensure Examination and three solid years of work experience, the Filipino nurse will go to Japan not to fully practice the nursing profession but to become a trainee. Under the JPEPA, the Filipino nurse must train under the supervision of a Japanese nurse for up to three years. If unable to pass the nursing licensure examination in Japanese, the Filipino nurse would have to be deported," wrote Paquiz.

Related Articles:

• Total Lost Revenues from JPEPA Could Pay for Salaries of Pinoy Nurses
• Pinoy Nurses to Get Equal Wages with Japanese Counterparts
• Japan Opens Doors to Pinoy Nurses
• PNA Position Paper on JPEPA
  

PGMA's Brother-in-Law Files Bill Requiring Nurses and Other Professionals Mandatory Local 2-Year Service Prior to Working Abroad

Negros Oriental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo is proposing that all registered nurses and other professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, midwives, medical technologists, physical therapists, engineers, teachers, sailors, accountants, interior designers, nutritionists and criminologists should be required to work locally for two years before they are allowed to seek employment abroad.

House Bill 04580 otherwise known as the Mandatory Two-Year Domestic Service for all Filipino Registered Professional Act was filed on July 1, 2008 and is currently pending in the lower house of Congress.

Meanwhile, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines secretary-general Ernesto Herrera called the bill, "absolutely unfair and highly discriminatory."

He added, "We have a huge glut of professionals in many sectors. In the case of nurses, the main reason they are leaving the country is because wages here are grossly inadequate. And the pay is meagre, precisely because of the massive surplus of nurses. This is the law of supply and demand at work."

Pinoy R.N. did some research and found other 'nurse' bills and resolutions pending in the 14th congress (July 1, 2007 to present) that are of interest to filino nurses and student nurses. A quick rundown of these bills and resolution are available below.

House Bill 01252
Author: Congressman Al Francis D. Bichara
Filed: July 24, 2007
Summary: The bill authorizes health authorities to devise a pay scheme for government doctors and nurses free from the limitations imposed under the salary standardization law.

House Bill 02719
Author: Congressman Mark Llandro L. Mendoza
Filed: September 26, 2007
Summary: The bill requires all medical doctor, nurses and dentists and other medical workers who graduated from public/state colleges or universities to render a mandatory two (2) years rural medical service.

House Resolution 00605
Proponent: Congressman Magtanggol T. Gunigundo
Filed: May 26, 2008
Summary: Directs the congressional subcomittee on labor and employment to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on framework, programs, and vision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Board of Nursing (BoN), and other concerned agencies in providing jobs to nurses who are unable to find employment and those who failed in the nursing board exams.

Related Article:

• Nursing Shortage in the Philippines: The Real Score
• Proposed Legislations Seek Mandatory Service Period for Nurses