DOLE: UK is exempted from deployment cap

Good news for nurses who wanted to work in the United Kingdom! Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified that they are not covered by the annual cap of 5,000 on overseas deployment of healthcare workers. 

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a virtual forum on Monday that the sending of nurses to the UK is allowed after the Philippine government granted its request to be exempted from the deployment limit.

“That’s an established fact -- that the UK requested that they be exempted from the deployment cap and on my recommendation, it was approved by the IATF and this was approved by the President. So as far as the UK is concerned, there’s no limitation,” he said. 

Aside from the UK, he said Germany is also requesting an exemption from the deployment limit imposed by the government. 

“Even before they (Germany) asked for an exemption, they already requested for the deployment of 15,000 nurses and healthcare workers,” he said. On the other hand, Bello clarified that Filipinos who are Balik-Mangagawa or those vacationing in the country, are not covered by the cap. 

“The Balik Manggagawa workers are not covered. They are those who are in the country for a vacation and have an existing contract,” he added. 

Last week, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) ordered the temporary suspension on the deployment of new medical workers overseas after the 5,000 annual cap has been reached. 

The order has temporarily stopped the processing and issuance of overseas employment certificates of newly hired nurses, nursing aides, and nursing assistants.