“FILIPINO NURSES, MED TECHS LOWEST PAID IN SOUTHEAST ASIA”

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4) – Filipino nurses and medical

technologists receive the lowest salary in the Southeast Asian region, a study revealed.
Data aggregator iPrice Group made the research after recording the salaries of mid-
level frontliners in six Southeast Asian countries via Economic Research Institute-
powered company, Salary Expert.

 The research revealed that experienced Filipino registered nurses only earn
around ₱40,381 per month. This is 57 percent less than the next lowest paid
registered nurses in Vietnam at approximately ₱63,200 per month.
 On the other hand, Filipino medical technologists have an average monthly salary
of more or less ₱29,444. This amount is 51 percent less than the lower paid
medical technologists in Vietnam who receive around ₱57,000 per month.
 Singaporean nurses and medical technologists are the highest paid according to
the study, earning an average of ₱236,000 and ₱210,000 a month respectively.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque admitted he had not seen the study yet. But he
reiterated the national government’s commitment to protect the welfare of nurses and
other health workers, who are at the forefront of the country’s battle against COVID-19.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said medical frontliners who will contract
mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms will receive ₱15,000 from the government once
the "Bayanihan 2" or Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill is signed into law. Under
"Bayanihan 1" or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law, only those who died from the
disease or became critically ill received cash benefits.

Vergeire added the financial assistance for those who have severe COVID-19 cases will
remain at ₱100,000. Around ₱1 million will be given to the kin of the frontliner who died
of the viral disease.

Based on the Department of Budget and Management’s Memorandum Circular 2020-4

released last July, the entry-level pay for a government nurse or Nurse 1 was increased
to ₱32,053, equivalent to Salary Grade 15 under the Salary Standardization Law. The
previous minimum salary for entry-level government nurses was only at Salary Grade
11 or equivalent to ₱22,316. The Palace also hopes that private sector
nurses be well compensated.

In a resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious

Diseases on August 20, the government has allowed those who have secured contracts
and overseas employment certificates before March 8 to leave the country for work.
The order was made after concerned sectors reacted on the IATF-MEID’s resolution on
August 17 which suspended the overseas deployment of all medical and allied health
workers, without any exemptions.

Other Filipino frontliners the lowest paid in Southeast Asia

The iPrice Group research also noted that four other pandemic frontliner groups in the
Philippines earned the lowest among their Southeast Asian peers.

Delivery truck driver helpers in the country earn approximately ₱23,300 per month,
while supermarket stock clerks have an average monthly salary of ₱13,300.

Also included in the study are Filipino security guards who earned around ₱15,400 per
month and warehouse workers who receive a monthly salary of more or less ₱14,500.

Singapore also paid the highest salaries to these four frontliner groups according to the
study. Other nations included in the report are Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
REFERENCES:
Yumol, D. T. (2020). Filipino nurses, med techs lowest paid in Southeast Asia. CNN
Philippines, International Edition. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/9/4/Filipino-
nurses--med-techs-lowest-paid-in-Southeast-Asia-.html