Care organisation asks support Flemish government in recruiting nurses from abroad
The care organisation Chinta is calling for more support from the Flemish government to recruit nurses from abroad, which is crucial given the shortage of care staff in Flanders. It made this appeal on Thursday during a visit by Flemish minister Hilde Crevits to the Kasteeldomein Patershof residential care home in Beernem.
During the visit, minister Crevits spoke with international staff, residents and representatives from Chinta and the care organisation Curando. “There is a great need for skilled workers in our care sector. The project running here is excellent because everything is done in a highly ethical manner,” stated Crevits.
The non-profit Chinta has been working since 2021 with various employers and the ZoWe training centre in Bruges. Currently, 244 nurses and nursing students from India and the Philippines are following their programme to be able to work in Flanders.
“International recruitment must never be based solely on Flanders’ needs, nor should it ever lead to a brain drain or exploitation,” emphasised Dirk Lips of Curando, one of the project’s partners. “That is why we work with a clear code of ethics, an ethical advisory group and external quality assurance.”
Candidates pay no recruitment fees, and employers also invest in training, accommodation, guidance and language support. There is also a focus on sustainable employment. For each programme, support is also provided in the country of origin through assistance with healthcare training, study opportunities or medical facilities.
According to Chinta, the biggest barriers today lie in long federal processing times for residence permits, the slow and complex recognition of diplomas, language support after arrival, housing and family reunification. “Diploma recognition is a major sticking point in Flanders. The procedure takes too long, and we need to find a solution to this together.”
That is why Chinta is calling for more structural support for language coaching in the workplace, faster procedures and better cooperation between policy areas. “Labour migration is still largely the responsibility of the employer,” declared Wouter Sonneville of Chinta. “But anyone who wants to do this ethically, sustainably and to a high standard needs clear procedures, faster processing times and better cooperation between policy areas.”
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © PHOTO STEFANIE LOOS / AFP