Filipino caregivers returning from overseas may soon have a new route toward working in Germany’s healthcare sector through a proposed training program introduced under the Global Skills Partnership initiative.
The proposal was presented by Judith Heepe, project lead for Germany’s Global Skills Partnerships, during a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Quezon City on August 3, 2026.
The planned pathway is intended for returning caregivers and domestic workers who hold a TESDA National Certificate II in Caregiving. Participants would undergo 18 months of training, complete a year of work in the Philippines, obtain a B1-level German language certification, and satisfy Germany’s professional recognition requirements before becoming eligible for possible deployment as nursing assistants.
As part of the preparation, participants would also receive hospital-based practical training, including assignments in emergency care as well as maternal and child health units.
During the discussions, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac also proposed exploring scholarship opportunities that would allow Filipino nurses deployed to Germany under the Triple Win Agreement to pursue master’s degrees. He said nurses who later return to the Philippines could help strengthen the country’s healthcare system by sharing their expertise as educators.
Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay said the initiative could create opportunities for returning overseas Filipino workers, particularly caregivers from Israel and domestic workers in the Middle East who have experience in caregiving and child care.
The meeting also covered Germany’s proposed Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership, with DMW officials noting that the Philippine counter-draft has already been submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs for review before it is forwarded through the appropriate channels.
