MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 25, 2008) - Filipino nurses held a noise barrage in one of Manila's oldest government hospital to protest the failure of the Arroyo administration to increase their salaries as mandated by law.
More than 100 protesters criticized the government for its failure to implement the hike in the minimum base pay of nurses as mandated by the Nursing Act of 2002.
Dozens of nursing students also joined the rally which was organized by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) and the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) and the National League of Government Nurses (NLGN). The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) also supported the protest which was later followed by a press conference.
Under the Nursing Act of 2002, the minimum monthly compensation for entry-level nurses should be pegged at least to Salary Grade 15 which is equivalent to P16,093.
However, six years after the enactment of the said law, many nurses are still grossly underpaid. PNA President Dr. Leah Primitiva Paquiz said there are still government nurses receiving less than P10,000.
“How do we expect these nurses to remain in government service with this kind of salary?” Paquiz asked during the Press conference. She pointed out that while pay is not the primary reason why nurses serve, it becomes the major factor that forces nurses to leave the country and work overseas in order to support their families.
Annie Geron, PSLINK Secretary General confirmed that many nurses would not have left the country had they been accorded a living wage at least.
“Setting the minimum base pay of nurses at Salary Grade 15 does not make it comparable to the salary that a nurse can get in other countries which offer a salary from $3000-$5000,” said Geron, adding, “but this will already do a lot in terms of providing them an incentive to stay in the country.”
Poor pay has contributed to the massive exodus of Filipino nurses, particularly in the period from 2002 to 2006 when the out migration of nurses was at its peak. This mass out migration in turn has led to several hospitals and health facilities closing down due to the lack of skilled health personnel.
“Let us not wait for the time they all leave to work abroad even if in their hearts they would rather serve the Filipinos,”Paquiz said.
Prices of basic commodities such as food and oil have increased many times since the adoption of the nursing law which is why the nurses see the implementation of the nursing law as urgent.
The groups said it plan to hold a protest action in Manila on July 28 to coincide with State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Arroyo.
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