Filipino nurses warned about 'lack of employment opportunities' in New Zealand

The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand warned Filipino nurses to take "great caution" in going to the country to find work amid the "lack of employment opportunities" for foreign nurses.

"The Embassy is aware of certain individuals and agencies who offer to facilitate the hiring of foreign nurses by arranging for them to travel to New Zealand on Visitor Visa to take the Comprehensive Assessment program (CAP) or Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for nurses and subsequently apply for registration by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ)," the Embassy said in a post on social media. 

"The Embassy has received information that due to the current lack of employment opportunities, IQNs (Internationally Qualified Nurses) who came to New Zealand on Visitor Visas have been left with no option but to leave the country upon expiry of their Visitor Visas," it added. 

It urged Filipino nurses to ensure that there is ready employment for them before leaving the Philippines, including a legitimate job offer with a verified contract from an accredited employer and a proper working visa issued by Immigration New Zealand.

They may contact the Philippine Embassy at wellington.pe@philembassy.org.nz or the Philippine Migrant Workers Office at mwo.newzealand@philembassy.org.nz. 

—Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News