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MANILA - Germany needs some 500 Filipino nurses this year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Sunday.

The European country is looking to hire hundreds of nurses as it tries to fill up vacancies in its healthcare industry, said POEA administrator Bernard Olalia.

"Nagkukulang po kasi ang kanilang mga healthcare workers," he radio DZMM.

(They don't have enough healthcare workers.)

Olalia said interested nurses may apply through the POEA website or through accredited private recruitment agencies.

Assistant nurses, or those who have yet to pass Germany's licensure examination, will get a starting salary of 1,900 euros or around P118,266.

Nurses who have passed Germany's licensure exam, meanwhile, will get a starting salary of 2,300 euros or around P143,165, Olalia added.

Applicants need to pass a German language proficiency test to become a registered nurse, the official said.

He urged those interested in working in Germany to check the POEA's list of accredited recruitment agencies before applying to avoid scams.

"Kapag po wala doon sa listahan, at hindi po nakalagay doon kung sinu-sino ang mga empleyadong mag-represent dun sa agency na 'yun, huwag po silang maniwala at hindi po 'yun totoo," Olalia said.

(If they are not on the list and the names of employees who can represent the agency are not indicated, don't believe them because it's not true.)

Around 480 Filipino nurses are currently deployed in Germany.

(1 euro = P62.25)