City of Vienna to recruit Filipino nursing staff: City, chamber of commerce and Philippine embassy have signed a memorandum of understanding

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Vienna – The City of Vienna, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) and the Philippine government, represented by the Philippine Embassy, signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” on Friday, July 7, 2023 to recruit Filipino nurses and caregivers. This is intended to strengthen recruitment of Filipino personnel, improve training recognition and simplify emigration requirements.

As a result, nursing professionals will soon be recruited from the country of 115 million people. Good contacts have already been established with the Philippine authorities through a pilot project, said WKO Secretary General Karlheinz Kopf. “Especially in the health sector, there is a great shortage of personnel. It is therefore essential to attract international professionals to the sector.” The Philippines has a four-year bachelor-level nursing education and therefore enjoys a very good international reputation, Kopf said.

Accelerated recognition of training
Peter Hacker (SPÖ), City Councillor for Health, referred to the city’s experience in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, Filipino nurses were specifically recruited for Vienna. Newly arriving caregivers could also benefit from this, as they would encounter a strong and well-integrated community here. “With today’s signing, we are paving the way for the rapid recruitment of very well-trained nursing professionals who will work in the long-term care and acute care sectors,” Hacker stressed.

In the National Council session on Thursday, it was decided, among other things, to facilitate the recognition of foreign nursing training. One of the biggest hurdles for foreign nursing staff was the long time it took for their training to be recognized. Making this process easier and faster is a contribution to meeting the high demand for care workers.”

“This Memorandum of Understanding allows Filipino nurses to come to Vienna with proper program and protection under the Philippiner Migrant Workers and the City of Vienna,. We are very happy about this and there is already an initial interest of different hospitals here in Vienna,” Philippine Ambassador to Austria, Evangeline Arroyo-Bernas said.