JPEPA stands for Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement. It was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on September 9, 2006.
JPEPA is a bilateral “mega” trade treaty between the two countries that seeks to promote investments and the trade of goods and services; goods like bananas and services of our Filipino nurses and caregivers.
It was said that 400 Filipino nurses and 600 caregivers would be allowed to undergo training in Japan for the next years under the JPEPA scheme; 3 years for nurses while 4 years for the caregivers. These health workers will train under the supervision of a Japanese nurse and will have to take their Licensure Examination in Nihonggo. If they don’t pass the exam, they are immediately deported back to the Philippines.
During the years of training, our nurses only receive training allowances. They also risk of not being hired since they are neither employees nor workers. Our nurses are better off employed in other countries than in Japanese soil.
Filipino nurses are the best in the world. Let us safeguard our integrity and dignity. Junk JPEPA!
source: www.pna-ph.org