International migration and global union: Filipino nurses and care workers

Public Services International Japan Council (PSI-JC) and Union Network International Japan Council (UNI-JC) organised a joint workshop on 25th June in Tokyo, Japan.

In this workshop, both global unions and their affiliates discussed and examined the current situation of international migration of Filipino nurses and care workers in Japan. Japan is badly in need of nurses, assistant nurses and care workers to work in health facilities. Unfavorable working conditions and low wages have resulted in a shortage of Japanese workers in the heath facilities. Japan has therefore allowed foreign nurses and care workers into their health care system. Indonesia and Philippines have signed agreements with Japan allowing their qualified nurses and care workers to work in Japan. One of the requirements is that they should study the Japanese language and pass the national licensure examinations to meet the qualifications needed to work in the Japanese Health Care System.

The participants had interesting discussions regarding the foreign health workers who enter the labour market in Japan. They felt that the global financial crisis and its impact on jobs should encourage the country to employ its own nationals instead of depending on foreign workers. Crucial factors to attract Japanese workers in the health sector include better working conditions, wages and other terms of employment. However, the unions realised that the shortage of nurses and care workers is a serious issue not only in Japan but also in sending countries. They also discussed the difficulty that many foreign workers have to adapt to the Japanese culture and language.

Participants felt that the agreements had neglected the unions during the consultation and preparation processes, with the result that the agreements do not offer a realistic view of the working conditions that migrant workers should expect to find. Further serious issues are the phenomenon of brain drain and damage to the quality of health care quality in the sending countries. However, when nurses and care workers are considering to work overseas, it was highly recommended that unions must take an active part in the ethical recruitment of migrant workers to avoid employment mismatches and exploitation. The Japanese unions will support the foreign workers to ensure that they will be respected and guaranteed of their basic rights like their Japanese colleagues. Norman Grecia from the Alliance Filipino Workers (AFW) said that “AFW, which is a federation of health workers, may be a conduit from the Philippines and help facilitate the conduct of pre-employment and pre-departure orientations.”

Katsuhiko Sato, PSI AP Regional Secretary, recommended that unions both in Japan and the Philippines should work together and strengthen their bilateral cooperation. Jose Umali Jr, General Secretary of the UNI–Philippines Council (UNI-PC) proposed a cross-border unions cooperation from sending to receiving countries and setting up of a help desk similar to the one UNI has set-up in Malaysia to assist migrant workers.