Filipino nurses quitting Ireland

FILIPINO nurses recruited to ease staffing shortages are leaving the country when their contracts are up having being recruited by hospitals in Australia, Britain and America.

Unions, the Philippines consul in Ireland and a leading recruitment agent have all warned that what is now a trickle of departures will turn into a flood, threatening a fresh staffing crisis in hospitals.

Around 2,500 of the estimated 40,000 nurses working in both the private and public sector were recruited on two-year contracts from the Philippines, most of them in late 2000, early 2001. Following their arrival, there were complaints of exploitation, bad pay and conditions, particularly in the private sector; sub-standard accommodation and allegations that they were forced to pay off agents’ fees. Now, having being invited over, they face an uncertain future.