Saskatchewan to Recruit Health Care Workers in Philippines

Released on November 7, 2022

Today, Minister of Health Paul Merriman announced the Government of Saskatchewan will undertake a targeted health care recruitment mission to Manila, Philippines in late November to actively promote Saskatchewan's health care employment opportunities. 

"With a vibrant and growing Filipino-Canadian population, Saskatchewan has a strong and meaningful relationship with the Philippines. With the cooperation and support of the Consul General of the Philippines to Canada, Mr. Zaldy Patron, this mission will allow us to engage directly with Filipino health care workers and attract them to the province," Merriman said. "This initiative is one of the ways our government is delivering on our commitment to attract hundreds of additional health care workers to our friendly Saskatchewan communities which are eager to welcome them." 

Beginning November 28, a series of workshops and information sessions will be hosted over five days in Manila by Saskatchewan's delegation which includes Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) representatives who will interview on-site. Minister Merriman will lead the delegation and participate in targeted meetings with key officials from a number of partner agencies to reinforce the province's important relationship with the Philippines and explore innovative opportunities to strengthen the partnership. 

Saskatchewan has announced intentions to recruit hundreds of new health care workers from abroad. While in Manila, the focus will be on recruitment of qualified health care workers including registered nurses, continuing care assistants and other high priority professions.  

"Our province has experienced success in welcoming Filipino nurses and other health care workers into our workforce and our communities," Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Everett Hindley said. "Saskatchewan is now home to a large and thriving Filipino community. We're already generating a lot of interest from the Philippines in the available health care jobs the province is currently looking to fill. We offer various incentives, settlement support and assistance to spouses in finding employment in the province." 

The mission will advance long-term collaboration and exchanges between Saskatchewan and Philippine post-secondary institutions on curriculum, alignment of nurse training programs and the development of pathways to fast-track Filipino health sciences graduates into the Saskatchewan labour market. Minister Merriman will be joined on the mission by representatives from Saskatchewan's two universities and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

An interactive web page, Saskatchewan.ca/HHR-Philippines, is targeted to a Philippine audience with the details of the mission, registration for information and recruitment events in Manila, as well as upcoming webinars and other online tools and resources. 

Saskatchewan's HHR Action Plan announced in September will invest over $60 million and add more than 1,000 health professionals into the health system over the next few years.

Details on health care opportunities, how to access them and more information on province's Health Human Resources Action Plan are available at a dedicated website saskatchewan.ca/HHR.

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