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Overseas Nurses – Be Careful! Download or Print this Fact Sheet (PDF)
The international shortage of nurses is resulting in many more nurses coming to New Zealand via international immigration agencies. But with the growth in this type of nurse migration, NZNO has concerns about the practices of some agencies. This advice sheet has been prepared by NZNO after we became aware of Filipino nurses coming to New Zealand and experiencing exploitative employment and immigration practices.
Recruitment Agencies
Some international agencies charge exorbitant rates to complete the necessary immigration and registration requirements. Other dubious practices by immigration agencies are withholding personal documents including passports; pressuring nurses to sign up for hire purchase agreements soon after arrival; arranging deductions from wages; and fostering excessive dependency of nurses on immigration agents for accommodation and childcare.
Nurse Mobility
International movement of nurses will always happen and offers benefits to nurses, to the health system and to society. But all nurses must be protected from exploitative immigration practices which deny nurses their employment and legal rights.
Nurses Working in Aged Care Facilities
Filipino nurses working in aged care facilities are particularly vulnerable. Nurses working in these facilities are more at risk because of the acute nursing shortages, the lack of human resource policies, and because nurses are more likely to work in isolation.
Advice for Nurses
NZNO recommends nurses wanting to come to New Zealand seek information about the reputation of any immigration agency before signing up with them.
It is important for nurses to know that they can manage their own nursing registration processes before coming to New Zealand. Once nurses are in New Zealand the services of the immigration agency can be dispensed with at any point. The Nursing Council of New Zealand will work with nurses to process their own nursing registration.
In addition NZNO advises overseas nurses to:
Be very careful about signing up for any hire purchase agreements e.g. seek independent advice before signing any agreements.
Check their employment rights and protections under New Zealand employment laws. These laws apply to all nurses irrespective of country of origin. These are available from the Employment Relations Service at this web site: www.ers.govt.nz.
Join the New Zealand Nurses Organisation which entitles members to practical advice, protection and assistance on employment and professional issues. Free phone line for membership: 0800 283848
Make contact with helpful agencies. These include the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Law Centres and the Refugee and Migrant Service who offer advice and support regarding immigration practices and processes. The Philippines Nurses Society of New Zealand also offers support and social contact with other Filipino nurses.
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