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Midwives lining up for retirement benefits
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Posted on Apr 23 2005
Outgoing midwives, mostly from Fiji, are now busy processing their papers to ensure that they get their retirement benefits before they leave the Commonwealth.
Fund administrator Karl T. Reyes said that groups of departing midwives, even nurses, have been lining up at the Fund office to submit needed documents.
To help them expedite the process, he said the Fund has devoted Fridays to attend to retiring midwives and nurses.
“They [Fijian midwives] are coming in. Most of them are leaving so they are submitting their documents,” said Reyes.
He said monetary benefits vary depending on the salary and length of service. Most of them, he said, have stayed for three years at Commonwealth Health Center. For this group, the claim would normally range from $4,000 to $7,000 each.
He said checks for departing midwives and nurses are issued on Fridays.
“I have signed many documents already,” he said.
A number of Fijian midwives are set to leave the CHC this month after failing to pass the required nursing exam or deciding not to take it.
Likewise, the Department of Public Health earlier said that some 34 nurses and midwives would have to leave CHC if they do not pass the required National Council Nursing Licensure Examination by June this year.
DPH said there are 16 hospital staff members who must take and pass the NCLEX by 2006 if they want to continue working at the hospital.
In 2007, another 34 staff, including two Fijian midwives must comply with the NCLEX requirement.
Under the existing rules, nurses and midwives, who are licensed by foreign endorsement can practice in the CNMI for a maximum of four years without taking the NCLEX. Failure to pass the exam within the period would mean termination of their employment.
Some senators earlier objected to the department’s requirement for midwives to pass NCLEX, a nursing test.
