FNU wants up to P40,000 salary for nurses

The FNU is standing pat on a P30,000 to P40,000 entry level pay for nurses. #higherpayfornurses

Maristela Abenojar (2nd fom left) has been leading FNU rallies demanding the increase in the minimum pay of nurses. (FNU)

A group of registered nurses has insisted that the minimum salary of public nurses should be up to P40,000.

Maristela Abenojar, vice president of the Filipino Nurses United, said in a radio interview Saturday that nurses in public hospitals started clamoring for a P30,000 minimum pay 17 years ago.

“We at FNU are standing pat on a 30,000 to 40,000 entry level pay for nurses,” Abenojar said.

Abenojar said they have been stuck with the P20,000 entry level pay.

“We are earning measly monthly,” she complained.

The low pay forced many nurses to work abroad causing understaffing in the country’s hospitals.

The nurse-patient ratio today is 1:30 when it should be 1:12, according to Abenojar.

The Senate has a possible source of fund for increasing the salary of public nurses, she said.

Earlier, the Ang Nars party list represented by Rep. Leah Samaco-Paquiz petitioned the SC to prompt the government to implement the Salary Grade 15 (SG15) for government nurses as provided under Section 32 of Republic Act No. 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.