German foreign minister grateful for Philippine health workers

MANILA, Philippines — Germany is grateful to Filipinos, especially in the health sector, for their important work in strengthening Germany’s health sector, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

Thousands of Filipinos, she said, come to Germany every year to work as trainees or professionals.

“They are doing an important work strengthening our health sector, and we see huge potential for expanding this cooperation even further also to technical professions,” Baerbock said in a joint press briefing with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo last Thursday after their meeting.

Baerbock was on a two-day official visit upon the invitation of Manalo.

The minister cited the German Triple Win program, a new legislation which aims to attract more skilled workers from overseas and also creates even better incentives for Filipinos to consider working in Germany.

Germany began the implementation of the Skilled Migration Act in November.

The new legislation will introduce novel channels for skilled workers from countries outside the European Union to immigrate to Germany. The law significantly broadens opportunities for individuals seeking entry into Germany and the EU for the recognition of their foreign professional qualifications.