Filipino health workers: Partners for health care in the Nordic countries

By Veronica Esposo Ramirez| Issue 27

Personal photograph of author

Many Filipino health workers are making their home in Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, contributing to the local economy while experiencing the benefits of Nordic social transformation. In these countries, health workers constitute the biggest bulk of the migrant workers, as they do across the world. In Norway, for example, since the arrival of the first nurse hired in Rikshospitalet, Norway in early 1970s, Filipino nurses have become the largest professional group in the country. They work in a variety of fields, from orthopedics to elder care, geriatrics and specialties, making a significant impact to the world of global healthcare through their knowledge, skills, technology know-how, and language. 

In 2023, I conducted research* in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to understand the international labour market, effective migrant worker recruitment, and the experience of workers in Nordic countries. Conducting interviews, small group discussions and surveys with workers in various fields, the study found a positive assessment of employment conditions amongst migrant workers, coupled with obstacles to recruitment and placement, and a variety of push and pull factors. Those who work in the health sector are required to learn a Nordic language at a level that will allow them to pass government examination. In Year 1, the employment conditions and occupational experiences that have the highest satisfaction are work-life balance (3.56%), social security (3.51%) and economic conditions (3.42%) in the Nordic countries. In Year 3, work-life balance (3.52%), fitness for work (3.49%), and salary and benefits (3.45%) have the highest satisfaction in their employment conditions and occupational experiences. As they stayed longer in the Nordic country, by Year 8, most of them already acquired citizenship and have been promoted in their work, they have savings and investments and now have long-term perspectives. It is no wonder that social security, salary and benefits, and work-life balance have the highest satisfaction in their employment conditions and occupational experiences.

The research shows that ‘liveability’ is a primary reason cited by Filipino migrant workers to describe the excellent work-life balance implemented in their workplaces, alongside the cleanliness, safety and low crime rate across Nordic countries. Compared with their home countries where the benefits of tax are not evident, the welfare system is a great novelty for Filipinos. Their taxes are happily paid and contribute to benefits in health, education, paid vacation, bonuses, retirement, financial support in case of unemployment, parental leave when a child is born and many others. 

Beyond compensation, migrant workers enjoy benefits that make life more meaningful. The work-life balance, the concept of hygge at work, is one principle best applied in Nordic countries to ensure the employees/workers’ wellbeing. Embracing the concept of hygge draws one to a slower pace of life. Work-life balance gives workers time and opportunity to engage in various sports activities, outdoor recreations and pursuits, travel ventures, and restful vacations. Even children in school are not given homework to lessen the stress of learning. 

In Denmark, those eligible to take master’s level courses may enroll for free and get a stipend, which is adequate enough to sustain a student. At the doctoral level, the stipend is higher. Besides this, taking a master’s degree requires a 50-50% mixed use of the local Nordic language and English.

The comfort level in life attained by Filipinos in host Nordic countries draws them to stay in Nordic countries. It is difficult to let go of a place that provides a migrant worker and his/her family with a comfortable, not lavish, life in a less stressful environment. Filipinos are also accustomed to observing equality and simple lifestyles. It is not uncommon, across Nordic countries, to see the head of a company, for example, eating in the office canteen, or the Mayor of a city walking down the street, or the Prime Minister with only a bodyguard accompanying him to a speaking engagement.

Other factors that attract Filipinos relate to stability and professional growth. Once a foreigner becomes a permanent resident in Finland and starts a family in the country, the government takes care of the family regardless if the partner is a Finn or not. Having post-graduate studies gives one an edge in landing a job with higher pay.

Migrant workers in global healthcare, when properly supported, can create social transformation. Greater support from governments would improve the flow of workers’ migration into the Nordic countries. Institutional channels to recruit migrant workers from third countries could help respond to an ageing population and labour shortage in Nordic countries, which is not diminishing but increasing, where medical professionals will continue to be in high demand. 

Government-to-government agreements will be necessary to accelerate recruitment and employment to fill labour shortages. Should a government-to-government agreement be reached, then recruitment agencies from the Nordic countries are issued the license to recruit directly. Based on my 2023 research, the following may be instructive:

• Follow the Finnish lead and experience in giving initial courses for language and culture in the source country; we treat this as a prolonged orientation about the country of prospect. For Sweden, Denmark and Norway, a formal system of recruitment and employment of workers from the Philippines can be formulated to facilitate systematic labour migration. 

• As an approach to materialising this, recruitment agencies from the host countries may begin to enter into partnership with tertiary educational institutions that have an excellent track record in producing professionals in the desired fields. Consider this as a pre-deployment investment. 

Migrant work, as a global phenomenon, does not only consist of recruiting and hiring. The whole process, when seriously designed to uplift the human worker, should lead to social transformation. The drivers and internal dynamics of migration processes between the Philippines and Nordic countries are a perfect match in the sense that Nordic countries are characterised by high-income and slow population growth, and therefore needing migrant labour to sustain national development, while the Philippines has low-income and fast population growth with educated and qualified people who opt for overseas labour placement to sustain their family and to contribute to national economy. 

*Migrant Worker Recruitment and Employment Practices in Nordic Countries: Implications to policy and international workforce market was conducted in October 2023 by the author, under a grant from Mr. Mika Eskola of Time to Give Back Säätiö Foundation, Finland.

Veronica Esposo Ramirez, Ph.D.

Veronica is a Professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific, Philippines. She conducts research on migrant health, work and life and has completed research studies funded by the International Labor Organization, Sumitomo Foundation, Inc. Department of Health and Department of Science and technology. In 2019, she won First Prize at the APEC Inaugural Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize for her research study, Common health problems of Women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), awarded in La Serena, Chile.