Pinoy nurses in dilemma after gov't imposed temporary travel ban for health workers

Filipino nurses who have been banned from going abroad are in a muddle amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation, according to the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) on Monday.

"Paano na po 'yung mga responsibilidad ng mga nurses namin sa ibang bansa?... 'Yung kontrata po kasi ang pinakaimportante po rito, siyempre pinirmahan nila po iyan. 'Yung mga salary nila, paano na po kung wala na silang babalikan na trabaho?" PNA national president Rosie De Leon said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

She added that some of the stranded nurses were just on vacation and have families abroad too.

De Leon also urged government officials to consider the ordeal that will be faced by the nurses who just completed their applications for overseas jobs.

"Gumastos na po ng malaking pera ito eh. Ang iba po rito inutang na nila. Ang tanong namin, paano nila mababayaran?" she said.

Moreover, De Leon underscored that nurses should be compensated well if they will be forced to work in the country amid the health emergency.

"We are also asking for consideration na kung nandito po ang nurses natin, sana po mabigyan din po talaga ng competitive salary," she said.

Another group Filipino Nurses United also condemned the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's abrupt implementation of a resolution banning the exit of local healthcare workers to strengthen the country's workforce amid the COVID-19 battle.

Travel ban for medical professionals will be implemented “until the national state of emergency is lifted and until the COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted at the destination countries.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said “this violates the Constitution in 3 ways: right to travel, inviolability of contracts, punitive ex-post facto resolution.” —Dona Magsino/KG, GMA News