Copenhagen, 14 June 2023 - Ambassador Leo Herrera-Lim, together with the ASEAN Committee in Copenhagen (ACC), engaged in a productive meeting with Sisse Marie Welling, the Mayor for Health and Care and Administration, and Jens-Kristian Lütken, the Mayor for Employment and Integration of Copenhagen.
Mayors Welling and Lütken raised the challenges faced by Copenhagen City in recruiting personnel for its hospitals and nursing homes. They acknowledged the urgency for national-level labor market reforms aimed at facilitating the entry of additional healthcare workers. They emphasized the gap of 4,600 nurses by 2030 to address the staffing needs of hospitals and nursing homes in Copenhagen.
Ambassador Herrera-Lim conveyed appreciation for the City's efforts in attracting skilled nurses from the Philippines and other ASEAN countries. He highlighted the presence of approximately 200 Filipino nationals currently employed in hospitals and nursing homes in the capital region. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for a comprehensive bridging program that encompasses language acquisition and worksite experience. In addition, he stressed the importance of greater flexibility in meeting some of the qualification requirements for nurses and conveyed the necessity for mentorship programs aimed at assisting nurses during the accreditation process.
Mayor Welling expressed her office's willingness to support nurses in meeting the requisite qualification requirements in Denmark and incorporating them into an ongoing bridging program.
The continuing meetings with Copenhagen Mayors serve as a valuable platform for meaningful dialogue and cooperation between the members of the ACC and the city of Copenhagen to acknowledge the need for comprehensive reforms, collaborative efforts, and the exploration of government-to-government partnerships to address the shortage of skilled workers in Copenhagen.
