Skilled workers from the Philippines: from Manila to Munich

International skilled workers have many career opportunities in Germany - people with good qualifications are urgently needed here. There are around half a million job vacancies. Since 2024, Germany has been increasingly seeking to attract skilled workers from the Philippines. People with qualifications in nursing care, electrotechnical professions or the hospitality industry are in particular demand. Various special services are on offer to help them move to Germany. Deutschland.de asked Filipino skilled workers what they find particularly attractive about Germany.   

Vivian Bueno Salvador, 37, works as a nurse in Munich 

“I’ve been living in Munich for a good year now. I found my job as a nurse at the Dritter Orden hospital in the city’s Nymphenburg area via a Filipina friend who also works there and forwarded my application. Because I took part in the ‘TripleWin’ programme, I had other job offers in Germany as well. But I wanted to be close to my friends, which is why Munich was my preferred choice. I really like the city because it’s so green and I feel safe everywhere. The working conditions are also very good: shifts are only eight hours long, and overtime is paid extra. Obviously the work can be really stressful at times, especially the night shifts. I work in the gynaecology department, where there are many women suffering from cancer. We try to give our patients not only the medical care they need, but also emotional support. 

I learnt German in the Philippines and paid for the B2 course myself. Shortly before departing, I attended a two-week preparatory seminar run by the Goethe-Institut in Manila. During the course we learnt lots of interesting things about everyday life in Germany - for example what rice costs here and that it is freezing cold in winter! But I like the different seasons in Germany.  

I found it very difficult to learn German and still have problems with German grammar and the Bavarian dialect. I often have to ask when I don’t understand something. But patients are very sympathetic and my colleagues are really supportive. 

It is very tough for me to be separated from my two small children. They are living with my parents until their visas come through. I hope they will be able to join me in Munich in September. Germany offers good promotion opportunities, fair pay and a friendly environment for nurses. But the thing that had the greatest bearing on my decision was the fact that international skilled workers are allowed to have their closest family members join them after a while in Germany.” 

William Darrel Cabebe, 39, is a physiotherapist preparing for the start of his new life in Germany 

“As a qualified physiotherapist, I help patients recover from injuries, regain their mobility and improve their health. My work is very fulfilling and gives me a lot of pleasure. Physiotherapists in the Philippines often battle with limited employment opportunities, low pay and a lack of recognition of their work. Germany offers me much better career opportunities: the healthcare system is robust and qualified professionals are in demand. I believe I will have the chance here to advance my career and work in an environment where my specialist skills are truly valued. Even though I know it’s not easy to adapt to life in a new country, I am ready to take this step because I’m confident that it will enable me to build a better, healthier and more secure future for my wife and my daughter, too.  

Learning German was one of the biggest challenges. So as to be able to devote myself entirely to this task, I took the difficult but necessary decision in 2023 to give up my job in a hospital in San Jose Del Monte in the Province of Bulacan. German is a very complex language, but I find its logic and structure fascinating and persevered. Now I am looking forward to using the language with confidence in my job. Another hurdle was having my qualifications recognised and getting through the immigration process. I’m grateful for the fact that the ‘ProRecognition’ project supported me with these recognition and visa processes. It gave me clarity and orientation, allowing me to overcome the hurdles and pursue my dream.  

Now I’ve almost completed the various steps and, thanks to the Federal Employment Agency, have already found a job in a physiotherapy practice in Mülheim an der Ruhr. If everything goes smoothly, I will soon be starting an exciting new chapter of my life in Germany!”