Immediate release of nurses’ delayed benefits urged
AS the world celebrates the International Nurses Day, a House leader called for the immediate release of the benefits of Filipino nurses.
“Today, we join the international community in celebrating the International Nurses Day by giving honor and expressing our deep gratitude to our dedicated and hardworking nurses. Our nurses have been battling this unseen enemy that has claimed and vastly affected the lives of millions of people worldwide for more than a year,” said Deputy Speaker and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda .
“They have been suffering not only from physical fatigue from their seemingly unending shifts but also from tremendous emotional and psychological stress just to fulfill the solemn oath they took despite knowing that they are exposing themselves to the threat of the virus,” she added.
In the Philippines, Legarda cited the low salaries and few benefits given to Filipino nurses, the reason why they opted to go abroad.
“This is a concern that must be addressed by the government immediately. That is why we passed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which I co-authored, to ensure that our nurses receive adequate assistance during the pandemic and also to give assurance that their rights and safety are being prioritized most especially in these trying times,” Legarda added.
Under these Bayanihan laws, nurses are entitled to COVID-19 special risk allowance, additional compensation for those who contracted the infection or for those who unfortunately died while performing their duty, and provision of life insurance, accommodation, transportation, and meals to all public and private health workers, among others, in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
