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Sentosa Recruitment Agency Vows Continued Support for Qualified Filipino Nurses Wishing to Work in the U.S.

Sentosa Recruitment Agency, a nursing and healthcare consultancy group that helps qualified Filipino nurses immigrate to and obtain employment in the U.S., and several nursing home employers today respond to a reported class action suit filed against them by twenty-seven New York-based Filipino nurses and one physical therapist.

"We are fully aware of the complaints and unrest amongst some of our more recent employees, however, we are unaware of any class action lawsuit," said Ben Philipson, Chief Operating Officer of the nursing homes. "Though we will not allow ourselves to get into petty back and forth arguments, we feel the need to clarify our position, and answer certain legitimate questions."

In an official statement on the matter, Philipson went on to say, "We strongly deny any wrongdoing or misrepresentation as has been described. Rather, the nurses and physical therapist resigned without any notice and in violation of New York State Department of Education regulations and their written employment agreements."

"In a relatively short period, nearly 275 trained nurses and therapists have been successfully recruited and employed," adds Philipson. "It is unfortunate, but it appears that this is a group of individuals who have been misled and ill-advised by others who would take advantage of them.

Understanding that they were misled, some nurses have since retracted and apologized for their action. Others, however, breached their contracts, violated the law and put vulnerable patients at risk by abruptly resigning. The nursing homes plan to fulfill their statutory reporting obligations and take all appropriate legal action to address the nurses' unlawful conduct.

Sentosa was the first agency in the Philippines that acted as an advocate for nurses, introducing the concept of not charging a placement fee. It assists applicants with all aspects of gaining permanent resident status, obtaining Social Security numbers and limited permits. It even provides free airfare from Manila to New York as well as temporary housing. This is a vital service to healthcare providers in the face of nursing shortages in the U.S., and Sentosa is committed to continuously processing applications and placing qualified personnel.

To address the position vacancies that were caused by this action, Sentosa is arranging for the arrival of additional support. Nurses who already have visas will be scheduled to leave the Philippines within the next few weeks.

Sentosa will also continue to arrange for two months of free housing to its nurses. Due to limited space, however, it is not able to accommodate other family members. This is something that the agency has always made clear during orientation sessions prior to the applicants' arrival in the U.S. While Sentosa does assist with the immigration of family members, it also advises all of its applicants not to bring them until after they have settled in and begun to earn a sufficient income.

"Sentosa is extremely proud of its ability to assist healthcare agencies during this difficult time of shortages in the nursing profession," said Francis Luyun, Chief Executive Officer of Sentosa. "Countless nurses have enjoyed and benefited from their experience, with many going on to see great advances in their careers. "

ABOUT SENTOSA RECRUITING AGENCY

Sentosa Recruitment Agency was formed by nurses, for nurses who seek permanent employment in the United States. Its group of professional nurses, immigration specialists and attorneys assist applicants in the immigration and employment process. It also has representatives in different provinces around the Philippines to assist locally. Sentosa's immigration lawyers perform all filing, processing, and follow-ups with INS. The agency's overall mission is to provide a comprehensive solution to fulfill the needs of Filipino nurses.

Distributed by Market Wire