The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand has cautioned Filipino nurses seeking jobs in the Pacific island country because there are no actual demand for them here.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday (September 27) revealed that while there are a number of individuals and agencies offering to facilitate the deployment of foreign nurses to New Zealand, there is currently lack of opportunities for them to be hired in hospital and medical facilities in the country.

The firms have been offering to arrange for the travel of Filipino nurses to New Zealand on a visitor visa in order for them to take the Comprehensive Assessment Program (CAP) or Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for them to apply for registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

According to the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, the process is legitimate but is not a guarantee for employment.

The hiring of internationally qualified nurses in New Zealand rely not only on CAP, OSCE and the NCNZ, officials said.

There should be local demand, which is not guaranteed, and the ability of employers in the New Zealand Health Sector to have nurses under their employ.

The embassy has received numerous reports that as a result of lack of employment opportunities for IQNs who flew to New Zealand on visitors visas, they are forced to return to the Philippines before their visas expire.

To avoid spending money for unrealized jobs in New Zealand, the embassy advised Filipino IQNs to ensure that they will be employed before embarking for a journey that will leave them empty handed.

The embassy said that aside from guaranteed job openings for nurses, there should also be legitimate job offers, verified contract from an accredited employer and proper working visa issued by New Zealand’s immigration office.