The Philippine Embassy in Berlin

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Vice President Binay Meets with German labor Minister von der Leyen

VICE PRESIDENT BINAY MEETS WITH GERMAN LABOR MINISTER VON DER LEYEN: BOTH SIDES AGREE TO FAST TRACK DEPLOYMENT OF FILIPINO NURSES TO GERMANY

5 June 2013, Berlin – Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, on the third day of his one week working visit to Germany, met Germany’s Labor Minister, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, to sustain the momentum of Philippines-German labor cooperation following the signing of the agreement to deploy Filipino Healthcare Professionals to Germany on 18 March 2013.  The Vice President was joined by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad, Honorable Francisco Tatad, and Prof. Dr. Gerhard Zeidler, Philippine Honorary Consul General to Baden-Württemberg and Hesse.
Vice President Binay informed Minister von der Leyen that following her visit to Manila in March 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino III had ratified the agreement on 29 May 2013. This means that the Agreement will now take effect and the implementing guidelines will be issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) soon.  The POEA is expected to start processing of nurses’ applications by 16 June 2013.

“For the Philippines, it means an opportunity for our nurses to get employed in Germany.  And for Germany, it addresses the shortage of nurses and other health professionals in the country,” emphasized Vice President Binay. Both sides are targeting the initial deployment of 50 Filipino nurses to Germany in the latter half of 2013, with an additional nurses expected in 2014.

The Vice President and Labor Minister von der Leyen took stock of the full gamut of potential labor cooperation and both sides also welcomed initial progress on the proposed Philippines-Germany Social Security Agreement. It is expected that the social security agreement will allow Filipinos returning to the Philippines to repatriate and totalize their pensions.  The next round of negotiations on a social security agreement will take place in the Philippines in January 2014.

Taking account of the existing complementarities in the maritime sector, Vice President Binay further suggested that the Philippines and Germany pursue cooperation in the maritime sector, which would potentially enhance technology transfer and boost the quality of seafarers’ training in the Philippines.  Noting the recent move to a K-12 educational system, Vice President Binay also expressed the Philippines’ interest to learn from Germany’s success with its dual vocational training system, which could further meet the demands of the Philippines’ expanding transportation infrastructure, real estate, and mining sectors.

As part of his commitment to ensure the welfare of nurses who are interested in working in Germany, Vice President Binay also met with State Secretary Klaus Murawski of Baden-Württemberg to discuss deployment of nurses in that state and obtain government support for nurses, particularly the recognition of their credentials which will facilitate their entry. The meeting was arranged through Honorary Consul General Zeidler, among the prime movers behind the nurses’ agreement. – END –

VP Binay and German Foreign Minister Westerwelle Look Towards Cooperation in Strategic Sectors

4 June 2013, Berlin – Vice President Jejomar Binay, accompanied by Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad and his delegation, met German Foreign Minister (FM) Dr. Guido Westerwelle at the Federal Foreign Office today. The two officials discussed the robust state of bilateral diplomatic relations which will see its 60th year anniversary in 2014 and closer cooperation in strategic sectors.
Vice President Binay praised the new vigor in Philippine-German relations and told FM Westerwelle that his visit is a manifestation of Philippine commitment to increase high-level exchanges with Germany. The dynamic in the relations was spurred by the visit of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario to Berlin in 2011.

VP Binay shared developments from the Philippines, from the robust economic indicators such as the GDP growth during the first quarter, the recent investment grade ratings, and the results of the recent Philippine elections which show that democracy is alive and well in the country.
The Vice President expressed satisfaction over German interest in moving the bilateral relations forward, noting the recent trip of FM Westerwelle to the Philippines as well as Labor Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen who was in Manila in March to witness the signing of an agreement for the deployment of Filipino nurses to Germany. The agreement, recently ratified by President Benigno S. Aquino III, is seen to be mutually beneficial – protecting the Filipino worker’s rights and addressing the needs of Germany’s aging population.

As part of his responsibility as Presidential Adviser on OFW concerns, Vice President Binay stated that he looked forward to the early implementation of the labor agreement, which should see the initial deployment of Filipino nurses to Germany in the latter half of 2013. The Vice President also expressed Philippine interest to explore the possible mutual recognition of academic qualifications with Germany.

He urged the German side to invest in the Philippines’ human capital and urged cooperation in education, particularly the dual system of vocational training. The Vice President that such cooperation is timely considering the K to 12 reform in the Philippine educational system.
FM Westerwelle praised the Philippine economy as a “powerhouse” in the region. The foreign minister recalled his recent official trip to Manila, where he called for expansion of bilateral cooperation across the board. The German foreign minister expressed satisfaction that his visit to the Döhle Institute in Manila, a maritime center which trains Filipino seafarers, had yielded in a concrete project, a roundtable discussion in Hamburg on directions for Philippine-German cooperation, including a possible “maritime strategic alliance”, where the Vice President will be the keynote speaker.

Vice President Binay spoke of the crucial role of Filipino seafarers, who account for 80 percent of officers of Germany’s merchant fleet. He welcomed cooperation with German stakeholders in the maritime sector to enhance the capacity of maritime training centers in the Philippines. The Vice President stated that President Aquino had already issued an executive order which provides the framework to ensure that the Filipino seafarer remains globally-competitive. Germany recognizes the Philippines as an important maritime nation and the central role played by Filipino seafarers in supporting maritime shipping and trade.

Both Vice President Binay and Foreign Minister Westerwelle will deliver keynote remarks for the opening ceremonies of the Asia Pacific Weeks 2013, a premier business forum highlighting Germany’s renewed interest in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, which will take place at the Federal Foreign Office on 5 June 2013.

The Vice President and his delegation from Manila, which included Honorable Francisco Tatad, Mr. Edgardo Lacson, and Ms. Milagros Lacson, arrived in Berlin yesterday as part of the first leg of his working visit to Europe’s largest economy. He was welcomed in Berlin by the ASEAN Ambassadors Committee and the Philippine Embassy staff and officers. – END –

German Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Calls on Secretary Albert F. del Rosario

Manila. Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Germany, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario at the Department of Foreign Affairs, this morning, March 18.

The German Minister is in Manila for an official visit to witness the signing of the Agreement Concerning the Placement of Filipino Health Care Professionals in Employment Positions in the Federal Republic of Germany at the Department of Labor and Employment.

sfa-german_fm sfa-german_fm_2

The Agreement is expected to open the German health care sector to Filipino health care professionals who have been, heretofore, barred from employment in accordance with existing German laws. It also stipulates the procedures and conditions for the deployment of Filipino health care professionals to Germany.

The initiative to help facilitate the deployment of Philippine health care professionals, nurses in particular, to Germany has been high in the agenda of the two countries. It was taken up during the official visit of Secretary del Rosario to Germany in December 2011 and during the visit to Manila of German Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle last month.

In recognition of the significance of the Agreement, Secretary del Rosario said that its conclusion is a win-win situation for both countries.

On the one hand, the Philippines will be able to help Germany fill its needs for health care professionals. On the other, Philippine health care professionals will be given the opportunity to be employed in Germany, a country which is known for its excellent labor and social welfare standards.

Secretary del Rosario also acknowledged the active efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Professional Regulation Commission that led to the successful conclusion of the Agreement. END

Philippine Embassy gears up for the deployment of Filipino nurses to Germany

Berlin, 19 March 2013 – At the sidelines of the signing of the government-to-government agreement that will facilitate the placement of Filipino health care professionals in employment positions in Germany on 19 March 2013 witnessed by German Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Ursula von der Leyen and Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad reported on the preparations undertaken for the implementation of the Agreement.

The Agreement was signed by Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Ms. Monika Varnhagen of the German Federal Employment Agency [Bundesagentur für Arbeit]/ [Zentrale Auslands und Fachvermittlung] (BA/ZAV).

With the signing of the Agreement, active recruitment of Filipino nurses will commence. The two labor ministers directed the Philippine Embassy, ZAV and POEA to closely work together for the deployment of the first batch of nurses to Germany within the year. The deployment process would involve the following steps: (1) the selection of qualified nurses through the POEA, BA/ZAV, and the Philippine Embassy; (2) successful completion of basic German language course in Manila; (3) attendance of a seminar on professional practices and on German culture; (4) matching of potential nursing employers in Germany. Further language training and adaptation process will take place in German hospitals.

Minister von der Leyen commented that in terms of qualified migration to Germany, the Philippines is an excellent partner because the two countries share the same values, beliefs and cultural background. She added that the Philippines is perceived to have high standards in the medical and nursing professions and that Filipina nurses also have the reputation of being high-qualified in their profession, with very pleasant nature and caring disposition.

The Minister also said that government university hospitals in Tübingen and Stuttgart have already indicated their readiness to employ Philippine nurses.

Ambassador Natividad recognized the groundwork laid down by the Team Philippines Germany, particularly the Philippine Honorary Consul for Baden-Württemberg Prof. Gerhard Zeidler.

“Preparations for this agreement have started as early as February of 2011. Prof. Zeidler was very aware of the urgent need for nurses in his area of jurisdiction. Together with the Philippine Embassy, Prof. Zeidler lobbied hard, worked with the state government of Baden-Württemberg on this issue, and was instrumental to the visit of Minister von der Leyen to the Philippines,” said Ambassador Natividad.

She cited, in particular, the concrete proposal for a pilot deployment project presented by Prof. Zeidler to the officials of the Government of Baden-Württemberg led by State Secretary Klaus Murawski. Prof. Dr. Zeidler also held exploratory talks with the Universitätsklinikum Tübingen.

“The Embassy will continue to rely on the support of Prof Zeidler and the state government of Baden-Württemberg, especially State Secretary Murawski to ensure the successful deployment of the first batch of nurses this year as envisioned by Minister von der Leyen.”

Ambassador Natividad also recognized the work of the Bundesverband privater Anbieter sozialer Dienste e.v. (Federation of Private Social Services Providers) (BPA). The BPA is the largest active advocacy of private providers of social services in Germany with more than 7,500 member institutions. BPA President Bernd Maurer discussed the deployment of nurses with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario during his official visit to Germany in December 2011. The BPA afterwards developed a pilot deployment project which they presented to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The deployment of nurses was further discussed by Secretary del Rosario and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle during the latter’s official visit to Manila last month. “The synergies of Team Philippines Germany turned this Agreement into a reality. Germany is now a destination for our nursing graduates who are seeking employment, ” concluded Ambassador Natividad.

The Philippine Embassy, POEA , and the Federal Employment Agency will work closely to ensure the successful deployment of the first batch of Filipino nurses this year. (END)

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