The U.S. has been battling a shortage of healthcare worker for years. To fill the void, it's recruited a record number of nurses from the Philippines, but labour and migrant rights activists say many are being exploited.

Tallahassee

The United States has been facing a significant shortage of healthcare workers for several years, a situation that has compelled it to look abroad to fill the critical gap in its healthcare system. In an effort to address this shortage, the U.S. has significantly increased its recruitment of nurses from the Philippines. This recruitment drive has succeeded in bringing a record number of Filipino nurses to work in the U.S.

However, this initiative has come under scrutiny from labor and migrant rights activists. They allege that many of the Filipino nurses recruited to work in the U.S. are experiencing exploitation. The concerns raised by these activists suggest issues regarding the treatment and working conditions of Filipino nurses within the U.S. healthcare system.



Filipino nurses in the U.S. say they're being exploited

Like many Filipino nurses, Kay Orendas wants to work in the United States. She's one step closer after passing the license exam. The grass is greener and the house is bigger like that. But what many call the American dream has turned out to be a nightmare for Ariel. He's asked us to conceal his identity for fear of repercussions. He says Filipino nurses have heavier workloads than local staff. They're treating us like a slave and then like for us we are like a cheap labor. Say for example you have four or five patients and then you'll see those who are working here. I mean those people who are from here and they were just sitting in the station. If a patient dies, nurses risk losing their license to practice in the U.S. Ariel says he wanted out but couldn't leave because his contract required him to pay $40,000 in damages if he quit early even though he covered his own immigration and travel expenses. He also says his recruiter, Ray Raval of Professionals to USA, threatened him. The company refused our request for comment. Activists say these practices amount to human trafficking and forced labor. Threats of deportation, threats of reputational damage, all of those threats of serious harm can be enough to compel somebody to continue to provide those services. Ariel isn't alone. In recent years, recruitment agencies have filed lawsuits against Filipino nurses for breach of contract. But the nurses are fighting back. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, where Ariel worked, told us it's aware of the case involving Professionals to USA and is reviewing its relationships with recruiters. The U.S. Labor Department has sued at least one agency for forcing nurses to pay for projected future profits. Professional nurse recruiters say a breach fee is standard in contracts as it's for recouping expenses incurred by the recruitment agency or healthcare facility. But that amount has to be reasonable. One study in 2022 predicted the U.S. will need an additional 450,000 nurses by 2025, a gap Filipinos are eager to fill, but one that could leave them vulnerable to abuse. Barnabello, Aljazeera.

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