Rabat – Recent comments by Filipino Ambassador to Rabat Leslie Baja on potential deals to bring workers from the Philippines to Morocco have caused a debate among Moroccans.
The comments specifically concern talks to bring over nurses from the Southeast Asian country to work in Morocco.
“I was surprised with one of my meetings just last week. They said that they are looking into our nurses. It seems that there is an interest and we conveyed this among our authorities in the Philippines,” Baja told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) earlier this month.
“There has to be a mechanism in place because right now, current regulations do not allow, if I’m not mistaken, foreign nurses to work here but if they open the market that would be good,” he added.
Moroccan law currently does not allow for foreigners to work in the country as nurses.
Reactions to the comments were split, with many saying that such a plan could cause even more strain on Morocco’s nurses who would be faced with more competition for jobs, arguing that Morocco does not lack qualified individuals.
While some argued that bringing in foreign workers could improve the quality of care in the country, opponents of the idea also said that resources would be put to better use in improving the country’s education and academic programs for aspiring nurses.
The statements also come at a time when some of Morocco’s nursing labor groups are protesting their socio-economic conditions, calling for higher wages and better working conditions.
While speaking to PNA, Baja outlined plans for a labor cooperation deal between his country and Morocco, which would see greater protections of the rights of more than 4,000 Filipino workers in the North African country.
