Pictures taken in Malmo, Sweden
Photo Credits: Ana Lindenhann
Let me clarify about my first post about Sweden respecting the Philippine’s ban of deployment of Filipinos as aupairs which is the reason the title of my post is Filipinos is Filipino au pairs is not welcome In Sweden. It is not to discredit any au pair matching agencies that provide Filipino aupairs to families in Sweden but I just based the information on the announcement posted at their site at http://www.migrationsverket.se/english.jsp?english/eat/eataupair.html
I also based on the Philippines newspaper report last about au pairs which you can read here and I knew personally 2 Filipinas who worked as au pairs here in Denmark who we’re denied when they applied as au pairs after their term in Denmark. But they told me that their application was denied because Sweden uphold the au pair ban in the Philippines so I presumed that they don’t welcome Filipinos as au pairs. One of these two Filipinas went home to the Philippines because she did not apply to other country like for example in Norway but the other girl is in Sweden not as an aupair but as a student.
It was written in a hurry and was in fact happy that finally one country in Europe respects the Philippines au pair ban. But someone commented or corrected me obviously from an agency so I have to verify the matter to the authorities concerned right away.
I wrote the Swedish Migration Board for clarification and they replied to me last 24 April 2009 that
“Au-pair permit and citizens of the Philippines is a special case. Sweden can not give an Au-pair permit to a citizen of the Philippines if they apply from the Philippines. This is because they will not be allowed to leave the country with an au-pair permit. However, there are no general rule stating that we are not allowed to give a citizen of the Philippines an Au-pair permit. Hence if a citizen of the Philippines has a permit to stay in another country and from that country applies for an Au-pair permit this might be approved (if the persons fulfill the requirements).”
So Filipinos living outside the Philippines you still can apply as au pair in Sweden but you have to know your right so as not to repeat what has happened in Denmark and currently in Norway (based on the current news).
As part of au pair awareness I will post the requirements for applications as well the reiterate the rights of au pairs.
Tags: aupair in Sweden, Filipino aupairs, philippines ban on au pair
The following article is written by Genevieve Arroyo who researched the au pair program during her stay as a cultural exchange student in the Netherlands and used it in her dissertation. This article was published at Munting Nayon News Magazine which is base in the Netherlands (http://www.mnnetherlands.com/mn/articles/aupair3.php). This article is posted here in to 2 parts with permission by the author .
Part 2
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After 4 years of hard work, I’ve finally graduated last July 12, held at the Heineken Music Hall. One of the reasons why I’ve been very busy and wasn’t able to keep you posted about my thesis, but hey, here I am again! First of all, I would like to express my great appreciation to everyone who supported me in finalizing my dissertation (you all know who you are!)
Genevieve with family after the ceremony at the Heineken Music Hall
According to Alex Osborn “A fair idea put to use is better than a good idea kept on the polishing wheel.” So last June 5, an activity using the Six Thinking Hats technique of Edward de Bono was organized. This technique was used in order to explore different perspectives towards a complex situation or challenge. In this case: Should the Philippine government lift the ban on the deployment of the Filipinos under the so called au pair program? This method was a huge assistance in distinguishing ideas or solutions about the problem in various ways, which may be a good idea in strategy formation or complex decision-making processes. The participants were asked to wear different colored hats (for various reasons, names will not be mentioned). Each colored hats is a mnemonic description of a particular hat: white (information), red (emotions), blue (process), yellow (optimism), green (growth and possibilities), and black (pessimism). To sum up, all the participants agreed that it is indeed logical for the au pair ban to be lifted but certain mechanisms should be put in place.
I would also like to clarify some confusion about all the reports surrounding Filipina au pairs during the first and second quarter of this year. The total number of Filipina au pairs who were here in the Netherlands last year (2006) in total is 238. There are in fact 898 au pairs who came to the Netherlands from 2000-2006. So contrary to some reports, the number of Filipina au pairs coming to the Netherlands is increasing. On the February issue of MN, one commented that I should also get the number of au pairs leaving the Netherlands because they were aware that there are a lot of au pairs who are overstaying. According to the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) “Almost three quarters of all labor migrants from 1997 had left within six years. Au pairs, trainees and students leave even faster. Almost all au pairs and trainees have left within six years….” Getting the exact number of leaving au pairs is almost impossible. Due to the EU integration there are no longer border controls and because of the European geography, one can go to other countries through different modes of transportation.
In order to maintain quality and to actually find out the au pairs say about the topic and to further inform them about the program, experiential survey was used for comparative analysis. With the assistance of Mr. Rico Fernando, this research managed to reach seventy one (71%) of the target market. This percentage is considered representative although all au pair agencies specializing in Filipina au pairs have declined to provide information regarding the topic because of privacy and confidentiality reasons. The survey has shown astounding results some of which will be shared.
In the past reports and was again reiterated by the Philippine embassy in The Hague, they claimed that: “Filipinas traveled to Europe as an “au pair” not with the intention to study a country’s culture and learn its language, but more to find employment by offering care giving, nannying or domestic related-services.” Based on the survey, forty (40%) percent of the Filipina au pairs really came here to learn the Dutch culture. Ranking second is for personal development (33%). This is normal because young people of this generation are very keen on developing themselves for future endeavors. Ranking third is to gain experience. A lot of reports have proven that through cultural exchanges, including the 2007 World Development Report (WDR), young people are improving more and more. Only eight percent (8%) of the respondents answered that their main purpose is to work.
As a response to the question: Did you feel abused by your host family? Out of the 40 respondents 3 people (8%) said that they were abused. The main reasons: they worked more hours than what is allowed and had to do what is considered heavy work. These au pairs are the very same people who were not completely informed about the au pair program. Sadly, none of them did something to stop this abuse just because they did not know who to contact or ask for help. By doing a cross analysis, these au pairs got to know about the au pair program through relatives/acquaintances, au pair agency and internet. There are different reasons for this:
* Perhaps the au pair agency did not provide proper information to the au pair applicant;
* As was stated by IAPA and NAPO there are dangers of finding host families through the internet;
* The relatives/acquaintances which introduced the au pair program to the au pair and the host families are not aware of the regulations of the au pair program.
Two of these au pairs don’t want to be an au pair anymore and in order for them to come here in the Netherlands they bribed some immigration officials in the Philippines.
CONCLUSION:
This research attempted to elucidate the complex rationalization of the au pair ban in the Philippines and why the Philippine government should lift the ban. The government has good intentions on why they imposed a ban on au pair placements although the program is internationally recognized. But by refusing to acknowledge the program’s uniqueness, it has caused a negative image not only to the country but also to the Filipino au pairs.
Genevieve Mr. Jack Hompes (IAPA/NAPO) and Mr. Tobias Novogrodsky (WYSETC)
By revoking the ban this image can be retracted and at the same time be valuable in the formation of a bilateral agreements with the EU. By insisting on its assumption that the au pair program is an employment scheme, it violates international norm which in the EU has already been established through the 1969 Treaty. So, such an agreement would be proven unfeasible. The benefits of the au pair program would rematerialize not only to the Philippine government and the receiving countries through economic growth but most prominently to the youths wanting to join this program.
On an academic point of view, the program provides benefits to the youth by enhancing and transforming their skills through first hand experience, cultural exploration and immersion, and broadens perspectives. Au pairs will also be endowed with added human capitals such as proper education, advanced knowledge and language skills. The comparative analysis has revealed that the au pair program is not being exploited by Filipino youths, has not caused trafficking to Filipino women and it is not a disguise to avoid unemployment safeguards. The number of abused au pairs is so diminutive that it does not constitute national interest and public welfare. The analysis has also shown that these Filipino au pairs, the ones who actually experienced the program, does not agree on the ban and would like the ban lifted. Nine years have passed and the situation has changed.
Through careful analysis and considering the legal issues involved, the ban is not in accordance with international regulations. Therefore, the Philippine government should lift the imposed ban on the deployment of Filipino au pairs under the so called au pair program.
CONCOMITANT
A copy of the dissertation was presented to the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) and to the World Youth Student and Education Travel Confederation (WYSETC). After briefings and discussions, both organizations have agreed to be of assistance to the Filipino youths and have asked the Philippine government to reconsider the au pair ban in the Philippines through the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alberto G. Romulo with a CC to Mr. Jose Z. Molano Jr., of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Copy of the letter follows.
Alberto G. Romulo
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs
11th Floor DFA Building
2330 Roxas Blvd. Pasay City
NCR 1300
Philippines
June 28, 2007
Dear Mr. Romulo,
On behalf of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA), I am writing to kindly request that the current policy of the Philippine Government prohibiting young people from travelling to Europe as au pairs be reconsidered.
This letter provides an overview of the policy in question, reviews progress made over the past decade to address the concerns which originally underpinned the policy, and provides background information about the work of IAPA and its members to provide cultural exchange au pair experiences for young people and host families around the world.
Background
On November 5, 1997 the Republic of the Philippines implemented a temporary ban on the deployment of Filipino ‘migrant workers’ under the so-called au pair program.
The ban was introduced on the basis that it would stop the perceived exploitation of Filipino youth, primarily females, living with families in Europe as au pairs. In particular, there were concerns that Filipino au pairs in Europe were being unfairly compensated, working excessive hours, and experiencing culture shock. A few exceptional cases of abuse, discrimination and prostitution were also reportedly brought to the attention of government officials.
Evidently, as no compelling evidence validating these concerns was available at the time, the ban was introduced on a temporary basis to allow for a more substantial study of the experience of Filipino au pairs in Europe to be carried out.
On April 20, 1998, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) distributed Circular Note Number 981289 to European diplomatic missions in Manila requesting their support in implementing the above-mentioned ban on Filipino au pairs.
The ban has now been in effect for almost 10 years.
Discussion
IAPA has a number of serious concerns about the ban.
First, IAPA is worried that what was intended as a “temporary” measure has in fact become a permanent policy which is denying young people from the Philippines an opportunity to participate in cultural exchange au pair experiences in Europe.
Second, in the past 10 years, no compelling research or information has been made publicly available which substantiates the concerns raised about the experiences of (some) Filipino au pairs in Europe in the early and mid 1990s. If the research has been done, it should be made public. If the research has not been done, then there is no objective basis for continuing the ban. Ad hoc, impressionistic allegations from more than 10 years ago that have never been properly investigated or validated are not an adequate basis for maintaining the current policy.
Third, it is clear that a small number of individuals from the Philippines are finding ways to circumvent the ban. Many European countries are still willing to provide Filipinos with visas to travel to their country as au pairs. In order to leave the Philippines, however, many Filipinos are forced to pay bribes to officials at the airport. Thus perversely, by pushing the business underground, the ban may in fact be exposing young Filipinos to precisely the kinds of exploitation it was designed to prevent.
Fourth, in the 10 years since the ban was introduced, the au pair industry in Europe and around the world has undergone significant development and professionalism. There are now hundreds of registered, licensed companies operating in Europe providing thousands of young people from around the world with cultural exchange au pair experiences. These companies are supported at the national, continental and global level by professional au pair associations:
There are national au pair associations in 7 European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Latvia, Spain and Ireland. A national au pair association is expected to be established shortly in Austria.
At a continental level, the European Committee for Au Pair Standards (ECAPS) – www.ecapsweb.eu — is bringing about additional professional and regulatory clarity in the industry.
At the global level, IAPA has established international standards for au pair program operators, a code of conduct, and other support mechanisms to support the international au pair community and strengthen the ‘cultural exchange’ benefits of au pairing.
The rapid professionalisation of the au pair industry over the past decade means that the difficulties that some au pairs from the Philippines may have encountered in Europe ten years ago are far less likely to occur now and, if they do occur, such problems can be much more quickly, effectively and aggressively remedied.
Fifth, the fact that young people from the Philippines are allowed to travel as au pairs to the United States but not to Europe is not justifiable on any objective grounds. The standards and regulations regarding au pairing in many European countries exceed those which are commonly applied in the United States. At a minimum, therefore, the blanket continent-wide ban denying young Filipinos the chance to be an au pair with a European family should be replaced with a less rigid policy that reflects the high-standards of au pairing in most, if not all, European countries.
Finally, IAPA is very concerned that the ban is based on a false assumption about the nature and practice of the au pair experience itself. The ban presumes that the typical au pair considers herself to be – and is viewed by her host family as – an inexpensive foreign labourer or ‘migrant worker’. This conception of au pairing is way off the mark.
The primary ‘currency’ of the au pairing experience is cultural exchange (i.e. values, ideas, etc.) not money. Indeed, au pairing is arguably the oldest and purest form of international cultural exchange experience available to young persons. As an integral part of a host family, an au pair is exposed to a new language and foreign culture in one of the most direct, personal, sustained and meaningful ways imaginable.
The modest stipend that au pairs receive helps to offset the costs they face while living and travelling abroad. Without this modest remuneration (or ‘pocket money’), many young people would never be able to afford the extended travel and cultural experience abroad that au pairing provides. Furthermore, many au pairs use their stipend to pay for language courses, thus gaining additional fluency in the recipient country’s language and culture.
Furthermore, over the past decade, the notion of au pairing as primarily a cultural exchange experience has been extensively reinforced through standardized business practices and legal frameworks now common in the industry. Nowadays, individuals wishing to participate in a cultural exchange au pair experience in Europe (organized by a licensed and/or registered au pair agency) are properly screened and prepared. Likewise, a European family wishing to host an au pair will be rigorously screened and informed about all relevant rules, legal requirements and appropriate cultural (exchange) practices.
For all of these reasons, IAPA formally requests that the government of the Philippines reconsider its out-dated, discriminatory ban on young people from the Philippines travelling to Europe as au pairs.
IAPA would be happy to meet with you or any of your colleagues to discuss this matter further. IAPA representatives would likewise be pleased to travel to the Philippines to participate in any process that may be undertaken to develop an alternative policy or legal framework for Filipino au pairs in Europe.
Thank you, in advance, for taking IAPA’s views into account. I look forward to hearing back you shortly.
Sincerely,
Mr. J.A.L.E. Hompes
Chairman
International Au Pair Association – IAPA
International Au Pair Association
Store Kongensgade 40H, 1264 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Tel. +31 20 421 2800 Fax +45 33 93 96 76
Email: mailbox@iapa.org Web: www.iapa.org
Tags: advantages of the au pair program, au pair in Holland, cultural exchange, exploitation of aupairs, filipina aupair in the us, Filipina aupairs in Europe, filipino aupairs in europe, IAPA, lack of information to the au pairs, Lift the au pair ban, obligation of aupairs, rights of au pair, the au pair program
The following article is written by Genevieve Arroyo who researched the au pair program during her stay as a cultural exchange student in the Netherlands and used it in her dissertation. This article was published at Munting Nayon News Magazine which is base in the Netherlands. This article will be posted here with permission by the author in to 2 parts.
Part 1
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The Au Pair Program
Different Views, Different News
by Genevieve Arroyo
Gnevieve Arroyo
Hello everyone!
I am a graduating student who decided to make a research on the au pair program for my dissertation. To begin with, I would like to explain what an au pair program is about. I know that probably most of you already know what an au pair is but I would explain it again for the benefit of those who do not know it yet and what the au pair program really is.
The Au pair Program
Cultural policies have been developed and promoted for over a century already and the au pair program is just one of those. Cultural exchange programs are supported from local councils, to national governments; to supranational and even at global levels (like UNESCO). Au pair literally means “as equal” which means that when a young person is placed as an au pair, the host family will treat that person as a member or guest in their house. Here in the Netherlands, if a host family decides to sponsor an au pair, the au pair will in exchange of free board and lodging:
-Assist in doing some light household chores and some babysitting. For a complete list of what falls on light household chores visit the following link: http://www.napoweb.nl/en/download/regulations3a.pdf
-Do her duties for a maximum of 8 hours a day, 30 hours per week only.
-Be allowed to participate in different leisure activities such as making trips or taking a language course.
-Receive an allowance of up to a maximum 340 euros per month.
The Council of Europe has set out the standards on au pair placement, entitled the “European Agreement on Au pair Placement” in 1969. Although the Netherlands is not a signatory of this treaty the rules are not contradictory to the said agreement.
For students or young people, this program is a good way to learn other culture and broaden their horizons. Having a unique status, an au pair is neither a student nor a worker but has both features. You can attend a language school to harness your language skills and at the same time receive some pocket money which you can use to visit other parts of the country and maybe save some of the money for future plans. Through this program, au pairs are then able to share their country’s culture and at the same time learn the culture of their host country.
Au pair ban in the Philippines
Having said those, why then would the Philippine government ban the au pair program HERE in Europe when in fact a lot of young people around the world (even Dutch youths!) are actively participating from this program? There were different justifications for the ban. According to some reports Filipino placed au pairs are being exploited, turned into slaves, domestic helpers and prostitutes among other things. It was also mentioned that there were many confirmed cases BUT there were no actual numbers of such justifications.
The ban was implemented nine years ago and caused a lot of stir. Dialogues, complaints, opinions, petition have been aired and published but up to this day the ban is still in effect. The situation since 1997 has changed. There are now lots of entities who help and support au pairs in cases of abuse or exploitation. Even the Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst(IND) has taken a move. Since June 1, 2004, au pairs with complaints can lodge their complaints to the IND (for those who don’t know the number it is: 070-3703888), au pairs may also try to contact the Netherlands Au pair Organization (NAPO), trusted au pair agencies and a lot of Filipino organizations who has devoted their time in helping co-Filipinos.
In a statement made by the Philippine embassy last April 1999 published by MN, it was mentioned that there was an ongoing dialogue between the Netherlands and Philippine government and both government are seeking solutions and “� this should certainly be forthcoming.” The Dutch government has already taken steps in tackling the problem. I haven’t seen any data yet about any moves made by the Philippine government (of course, maybe this is because my files/research is still not complete). When I wrote to the Philippine embassy in The Hague last November 2005, I was informed that the embassy is not aware of any statistical information that Filipinos continue to travel to the Netherlands under the au pair arrangement. Below are the actual numbers:
Approved MVV’s on Au pair arrangement
|
Year |
Number of Au pair |
|
2000 |
127 |
|
2001 |
90 |
|
2002 |
115 |
|
2003 |
101 |
|
2004 |
94 |
|
2005 |
133 |
|
2006 |
To be published on next issue |
Source: IND
According to the president of NAPO, Mr. Jack Hompes, Filipino au pairs continue to arrive and through the years the numbers are stable, as you can see and in 2005 alone there are 133 Filipino placed au pairs here in the Netherlands. This is quite a huge number considering that the ban is still implemented and that immigration officials in the Philippines have been notified about it. Some reasons that prompted the growth are:
- Youths from around the world are becoming aware of the benefits of the au pair program
- Growth of the number of au pair agencies specialized in Filipinos.
- Need for self improvement by means of experience.
For this reason, I managed to interview Filipina au pairs who are already here sometime in 2005 and some of those who arrived in 2006 and this year. I would like to ask all Filipina au pairs to participate in my survey and if you know anyone else who is into the au pair program starting from 1998 to present. Also different au pair agencies to let me interview Filipino au pairs they’ve placed. The survey will be sent by email and if it’s not possible I can send it to you by post or we can make an appointment.
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MN-205, March 24, 2007
Life on campus has many distractions that can keep students from managing their time and keeping up with their studies, but according to Thomas Huxley: “Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the things that you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.”
I have decided to compare the au pair program as implemented by two powerful continents: United States and Europe. Why? Because the au pair ban imposed by the Philippine government only applies in Europe BUT not in the US.
In the US, they have what they call an Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). The purpose of the program is to provide foreign nationals the opportunity to participate in educational and cultural programs in the US. EVP is divided into 13 program categories. The au pair program is just one of these categories. The Philippine participation on the EVP is being handled by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO).
The following table is a compilation about the au pair program in US and Europe.
|
Requisites |
US |
Europe |
Netherlands |
|
Program Regulations |
Exchange Visitor Program Regulations (22CFR62) |
European Agreement on au pair Placements (EAAPP) EU Treaty Series No. 68 |
Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst (IND) |
|
Extension Possibilities |
Possibility of extending for another 6, 9 or 12 months |
Possibility of extending for another year (only in some countries) |
Not possible |
|
Pre-arrival training |
Compulsory + orientation seminar |
Not necessary |
Not necessary |
|
Academic Requirements (while in the host country) |
Must complete at least 6 hours of academic credits |
Must take language courses (before and after arrival) in some countries |
Optional |
|
Course costs to be paid by family? |
Yes, maximum $500 |
Differs per countries |
Maximum €230.00 |
|
Age limit |
18 to 26 yrs old |
17 to 30 years |
18 to 25 years old |
|
Maximum number of work hours per week |
45 |
Differs per country |
30 |
|
Maximum number of work hours per day |
10 |
Differs per country |
8 |
|
Day(s) off |
1 |
1 or more |
2 or more |
|
Compensation � |
$231.75/week |
Differs per country |
Maximum €340.00/month |
|
Board and lodging � |
$92.70/week |
FREE |
FREE |
|
Insurance |
Paid by the au pair |
Paid by the host family |
Paid by the host family |
|
Host Family-Au pair Agreement |
Required (before arriving at host family�s home) |
Required (before or after arrival, depending on the host country) |
Required when applying for a residence permit |
This table has two purposes:
1. To compare the differences of the au pair program between US and Europe and
2. To find out whether the au pair program in Netherlands is contradictory to the EAAP.
As mentioned before, Netherlands is not a signatory to the EAAP. Based on the table, there are slight differences. Of course in Europe, rules are applied differently as each country has to adhere on their own regulations. In Belgium for example, the au pair should already be enrolled in a language course (Dutch, German or French) before a visa is issued. If a person wants to go to Germany as an au pair she needs to speak German. In the Netherlands, taking a language course is optional. But it is worth noting that most au pair agencies here and some companies provide Dutch courses especially for the au pairs and it doesn’t cost as much as when you attend to a normal school.
Another interesting difference is the “working” hours. In the US, au pairs can work up to a maximum of ten (10) hours per day; in France five (5) hours per day and in the Netherlands eight (8) hours per day. There is also a big difference in compensation. If you are an au pair in the US they will deduct $92.70/week for board and lodging, so the total compensation per week would be $139.05. This wage is according to the Fair Labor Standards Act of the US Department of Labor. In the Netherlands, the maximum allowance is €340.00 per month. This is in accordance to the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Wav). In Belgium, the au pair’s compensation must be at least €450.00 per month and must be deposited into the au pair’s bank account. There is also a possibility of extending the au pair’s stay for 6, 9 or 12 months after a year in the US. In Europe, some countries allow au pairs to extend their stay for another year but this is not the case in the Netherlands.
Based on these comparisons, are the regulation differences really that huge? How do we know that indeed Filipina au pairs are exploited? Or turned into domestic helpers? Is it from the working hours? Or is it based from the au pair’s stipends? Considering that it’s only this year that the salary of domestic helpers increased from $200 to $400. Au pairs are supposed to be treated as a member of the family. Are au pairs treated in a way that is comparable to how domestic helpers in Hong Kong or Middle East are treated? We’ve all heard horror stories (and facts!). But I will not go into this as my research is not about domestic helpers.
So, how do we distinguish the difference then? From hear says? Where and how do we base such judgment? Is it through perceptions? What about duties? Is it really similar? There are lots of questions that need to be answered in order to clarify these confusions. There were also reports that some au pairs do not really come here in Europe for cultural exchange but to work, this is certainly a valid ground BUT isn’t it that when someone applies for a visa in any embassy or consulate the applicants are interviewed by one or two of the embassy staff in order to determine if someone is eligible or not (for whatever purpose). Isn’t that sort of directly or indirectly questioning/doubting how this people do their job? Also, is it fair to pre-judge someone to do something illegal or inappropriate? All human beings have different needs and desires; one of them is to have a good life. What is wrong in wanting or trying to earn some money? What about those who really want to participate in cultural exchange programs? Should they just all go to US when in fact it costs much more to go there? Should they just leave out Europe which is actually more culturally diverse than anywhere else?
Although I will never have the opportunity to become an au pair, I am into cultural exchange programs (being an international student). Never will I regret being a part of a program that shapes and hones one’s skills and aids in attaining your goal. Being culturally diverse is just one of the things that someone needs to learn in order to be competitive. I do not intend to play havoc with this topic but I do welcome answers and comments on all sides.
For your response/comments: vieve965@yahoo.com
Tags: advantages of the au pair program, au pair in Holland, exploitation of aupairs, filipina aupair in the us, Filipina aupairs in Europe, lack of information to the au pairs, obligation of aupairs, rights of au pair, the au pair program
This Site is NOT a AUPAIR ’s MATCHING AGENCY
but A NON PROFIT Aupair Awareness Site nor intended to misuse an agency’s site for further clarifications check my post this-is-only-information-hub-for-filipino-au-pairs-not-a-recruitment-agency
if you are looking for help to find you a host you are on the wrong site
But nevertheless it doesn’t hurt if you know your Rights as an Aupair. You can browse the categories which is appears above or at the sidebar. This site is intended to provide information to au pairs specifically to Filipinos. Or you can also use the search box on the right side for particular topic. Below is the description on what’s the content of the categories.
- Au Pair Information- Information gathered from embassy’s and Immigration Service Website
- Au Pair News- Relevant news from article contributor or from different news media
- Au Pair Stories – Life stories FilipinaAu pairs
- Blogs- random blogs about anything related to au pair or OFW life
- General- formerly labeled uncategorized means that all that is not categorized will fall here.
Note that I do this on my free time so there’s still needs a lot of basic information from other countries that hire au pairs. But I will try to post more in my free time otherwise I will accepts any contribution relevant to this site just post a comment or write to me at filipinaaupair(at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you
Ana Lindenhann – administrator
Tags: au pair information, filipina, Filipina aupairs, non profit aupair information site, rights of an aupair
In the last decade alone, Philippine au pairs have gone to Denmark in droves. Out of 2,000 in 2007, 62 % or a total of 1,249 were Filipinos.
Dulce, a 25-year old Filipina, was just beginning to enjoy the sweet life in Copenhagen, not exactly the most cosmopolitan city in northern Europe, but a cozy urban place nonetheless, popular with tourists. She was, for months, an au pair for a young family in the northern suburb of Espergaerde. When she was off work, Dulce would meet up with her friends, usually from her home province of Bohol, for karaoke nights or for church on Sundays. Her family back home in Tagbilaran was quite pleased that she could send money home out of her meager allowance.
Au pairs are a hybrid in Europe. Neither workers nor students, they get remunerated because they usually help two-career European families take care of small children and with the house chores. The term “au pair” means “at the same level” as family members. They are required to work for up to 30 hours a week (a maximum of five hours a day); the rest of the time, they are expected to study Danish culture and language.
In addition to free board and lodging (their own room is a basic requirement) plus perhaps the use of a laptop and extra amenities like phone cards and travel passes, they get 2,500 kroners ($500) a month, from which they pay 8 % labor market tax. Considering that a simple T-shirt costs $15 and lip gloss more than $20 (in the Danish welfare state, cosmetics are considered luxury goods; cars have a value-added tax of 200%), au pairs’ earnings are not something to write home about. Many are tempted to do “black” work, like cleaning and babysitting, which is illegal and can be cause for deportation.
One Sunday evening last November, Dulce was being dropped off at her Danish host family home by her friends after coming from evening mass. As she got out of the car and was crossing the country road in the pitch darkness of winter, she was ran over by a private car right before her helpless friends’ eyes. She died on the way to the hospital, and her friends and the car driver all had to receive shock therapy.
Dulce’s death was doubly painful for her family back home because no one was willing to pay for the transport of her casket to Tagbilaran for a proper burial. Cremation was not an option for her parents. The Danish host family wasn’t able to take on this responsibility [of sending her remains home], nor was there a provision in her contract about funeral arrangements. The host family was only responsible for her medical needs and care under their roof.
To help out, the Filipino community in Denmark began a collection. However, despite hectic attempts to raise the $8,000 needed to bring Dulce’s remains home, the collection still came up short. Weeks passed. Apparently nobody in Denmark could be held responsible for mortuary details, even if the Danish government and state that had given Dulce her permit to stay in the country.
It was only after the newly appointed Philippine Ambassador to Denmark, Norway and Iceland, Victoria Bataclan, got involved in the case and conducted dialogues with the different instances in the Danish system, did a solution come about. The insurance company of the driver was finally pinpointed as the party to bring her remains to Tagbilaran. The other aspects of the Dulce case are yet to be resolved.
Banning Au Pairs
The story of Dulce is an example of the No Man’s Land that Filipino au pairs risk landing into if they encounter problems during their stay in Denmark. When Filipinos go abroad to become au pairs, they are actually entering unchartered territory without their realizing it. They are welcomed in Denmark and other European countries where young families with small children and hectic careers make use of their labor. But the Philippine government doesn’t want them to leave the country as au pairs.
To the many documented instances of abuse and exploitation of Filipino au pairs abroad, the Philippine government’s response was to impose a ban on travelling as an au pair. This ban can be seen in two ways: as a means by the Philippine state to protect its citizens, and as a kneejerk reaction to the criticism of the way the Philippine government protects its citizens’ rights as workers in other countries. Evil tongues would say, au pairs earn and remit too little money anyway so they might as well stay home.
This ban, however, isn’t honored or respected by official instances in Europe. The Danish state, for example, continues to release visas or permits-to-stay to Filipino au pairs, even as it refuses to go into bilateral agreements with the Philippine government. Some recruitment agencies circumvent the ban by arranging for Filipino au pairs to get their Danish visas in other countries, such as Singapore.
The ones who suffer the most [from this ban] are the thousands of young Filipinos who travel to Europe and, when some problem arises, realize that they are on their own. This [lack of government support] is apparent even as they depart from Manila. At the airport, it is said that first-time travelers have to pay an “escort fee” (at least P20,000) to some officials, who use the travel ban as an excuse to extort and exploit the hapless au pairs who might have already paid hundreds of thousands of pesos to their equally rapacious recruiters.
Linda (not her real name), an ex-au pair who is now happily married and is the mother of an infant, confided to me that she was so relieved to have finally paid off the P250,000 debt she incurred from a cousin of hers who “found” her an au pair family in Denmark. Had Linda just depended on her monthly allowance of 2,500 Danish kroner, it would have taken her ten months to pay this illegal and exorbitant fee. But because she dared to work illegally beyond her official hours, she was able to pay off her “debt” in six months. Linda no longer speaks to her cousin but she’ll never report her to the authorities.
The cases of Dulce and Linda underscore the effects of the lack of bilateral agreements between the Philippines and their host country, where the au pairs — mostly young women, but increasingly, young men, too — are actually without rights as workers.
In the last few months, I also became aware of the case of Maria (not her real name) whose permit was revoked when she became terminally ill with leukemia. It was actually the Aliens Directorate, now ironically calling itself Aliens Service, which insisted that she leave her employ as soon as possible, when her health situation was found to be grave. Maria, who has gone back to the Philippines, hasn’t gotten over how dispensable she, with her work skills, was. As soon as she was no longer considered an asset to the Danish family she was au pairing for, she was given her month’s pay, and not a cent more, then it was farvel og tak, goodbye and thanks!
Courage against exploitation
Filipinos are regularly covered in Danish media, with stories often about the abuse or exploitation of an au pair. With their hourly pay of $1.25, which Danes consider slave wages, and reports of au pairs having to work up to 100 hours per week when the prescribed maximum is 30 hours — these are the stuff that media dish up and readers gobble up! On TV, we have seen so-called host families threatening au pairs on air because they have bravely come out and confronted their hosts about unpaid extra working hours, such as cleaning the homes of their hosts’ friends and associates, which is against the law. We’ve also read in the daily papers about the well-meaning wives of top business people, directors and CEOs in the so-called “whisky belt” north of Copenhagen (meaning the upper-crust Danes) who lend each other their au pairs so they have uniformed serving ladies during big business dinners. Without the protection of the Philippine government, the Danish government can actually deport the au pairs who bravely go public about their abuse and exploitation, although now they are given one month to find another host family. Failing that, the police will escort them to Kastrup airport. The brave au pairs have to fight on many fronts. As they face the wrath of their host families, they also risk being marginalized by their own kind. The Filipinos in Denmark generally look at au pairs as those who “disturb” the tranquil picture of Filipinos who have nice jobs and stable marriages, and who don’t want to be in the public eye. After yet another story of an abused au pair hit the headlines, one established Filipina commented, “Now, we all risk being seen as imported unskilled labor,” (meaning au pairs, or worse, as mail order brides.)
New Possibilities
The realities of the Danish labor market provide an opportunity to change both the image of Filipinos in Denmark, and of the au pair system.
Denmark’s labor market is screaming for more bodies in the workforce, so why not integrate into the market these intelligent, hard-working and, in many cases, very highly educated young men and women, who just need an investment in language and a few other qualifying courses?
When their visas expire, many Filipino au pairs move from Denmark to another country, such as Norway, where the au pair allowance is higher and the stay is up to two years.
More and more young parents in Denmark recognize that they need a helping hand with the household chores if they are to combine family life and career. In order to accommodate their needs and the young Filipino au pair’s needs as well, perhaps it’s time to revise the old “young girl in the house” model (a kind of domestic help of a lighter variety but with a proper pay for the hours worked). In which case, the payment of 6.50 kroner (equivalent to $1.25 an hour, when the market rate is 100 kroner or $20 an hour) has to be changed, as it is a black mark on Denmark’s and Europe’s reputation, because they are being looked at as a country and a continent that profits from exploiting young men and women from developing countries.
Filipino au pairs are now definitely part of the suburban landscape of Denmark. On the street where I live, there are three of them. I just said goodbye to Ramos, also from Tagbilaran, whose 18-month stay couldn’t be extended, to the disappointment of his host family who were very pleased with him. On his last day, he gave them a treat by cooking lumpia. When I asked him about his plans, Ramos said he was definitely going back to school to finish his nursing degree. His girlfriend, Flores, also an au pair, is finishing her term in a few months. Her older sister has successfully transitioned to a job with an international nonprofit in the Danish capital. Other au pairs have set their sights on further education and some have been successful in getting jobs in their real professions, as nurses, accountants, and information technology, among others.
Note: This article is reposted with permission by the author can be foun on her website www.filomenitamongaya.com. First published in Filipinas Magazine in April 2008. & in ABAKADA (Ang Balitang Kababaihan ng Denmark) Summer 2008 issue). Filomenita Mongaya Høgsholm is the founding Chair of Babaylan Denmark and is an Executive Board member of Babaylan Europe. She is also Board member of KULU, Women and Development Denmark.
Tags: abuse of au pairs, au pair ban in the philippines, au pairs in denmark, au pairs in europe, babaylan denmark, Death of an au pair, death of filipina au pair, Filipina in Denmark, filipina stories, filipinas, filipinas in the whisky belt, filipino au pairs, Filipino community in Denmark, Filomenita Mongaya
Have you ever wonder why recieve an email from a british family offering you an au pair job like this in my spam box
Good day
We are honest and sincere British family living in the United Kingdom , We are looking for honest and sincere person to come over and take care of our kids while we are out for work. I want you to start working soon. I will be glad to read more about you if interested in the job and also to see pictures of you. I will try to upload my pictures and I will send them to you if you are interested in the job.. However, get back to me immediately if you are interested in the position for further details about my family and the job. There are colleges in my area and I will be glad to sponsor your tuition incase you will like to attend language class as you can study in your free time.
Your duty is basically taking care of my kids and making sure they are in
good state of health always and I will expect you to work for 35 hours
weekly from Monday thru Friday with weekends off. I will like to know
if you are okay with the salary offer of 1700pounds monthly and a
weekly pocket money of 250pounds. Get back to me soon if you are
interested in the job for further details. Here is my Contact Home
address 34 NESS WALK WITHAM, ESSEX , CM8 1TN and my phone numbers: +44 703 59721 197 E-mail mcbrdave1@yahoo.co.uk
I look forward to hear from you soonest possible.
Mc Brian David
For the family
It’s seems tempting but IT’s A SCAM - It’s not true. It happened to few people that I know but were to ashame to admit it publicly. It’s prevalent when you join au pair matching sites these scammers opens a profile as a family and try to contact desperate applicants. First they will contact you and promise you a very tempting impossible salary but later on they will extort you an ask you to send money.
Be wary especially if they say that they live in United Kingdom it is absolutely false because as of November 27 2008 the Au Pair Scheme together with other temporary working visa/permit is closed they are NOT accepting AU PAIR
check their website
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/
This also applies to agency or any other agent who offer you au pair job in the UK.
Tags: scammers, stop aupair in UK
To all visitors this blog is done in good faith and with no bad intentions. The purpose of this site is for information only it does not in any way intend to do harm nor misuse this domain as other see it.
How can I misuse this domain when I only post information about au pair rights and where to get the right information. If you want to become au pair then this site will help or guide you to find the information you needed but I will never intend to advertise nor refer you to any particular Au pair Agency.
This is a nonprofit borne out compassion to countless Filipina(o) aupairs who life became miserable when they became au pair because of illegal recruiters who charge them sky high where their families sold their properties and those who had cruel host families. I don’t get any incentives or financial help in fact I paid this site by sacrificing a little bit and maintain it during my free time that’s why I haven’t posted much due lack of free time. Beside being a mother, a wife and student. I also a daughter who visits my ailing father in the hospital and share the heavy burden my mother carry on her shoulder. I’m also that doing something for the community without expecting nothing in return. That is why I encourage those who are really sincere to provide help by means of posting informations or stories without conflict of interest to contribute in this site to create awareness.
Au Pair is still ban on the Philippines so Filipinas(os) who leave our country to work as au pair are helpless and very susceptible to scams by both Filipinos and other nationalities aside fromthe misuse of the au pair scheme by the host families. Despite the ban thousand and thousand of Filipinos leave the Philippines to worked as an au pair without any orientation of what awaits them in the host countries. Unlike the OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) or contract worker they have to go through medical check up and h . Let us not only blame the host families but the ignorance of the au pair scheme. Lack of information is the culprit if you ask Filipinos they don’t know what is an au pair. They still regards Filipino aupairs as domestic helpers or maid which is not the case check this stories http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154015/Filipinos-work-in-Norway-as-au-pairs-despite-ban & http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148265/Pinoys-in-Nordic-countries-urged-to-register-for-2010-RP-elections
I did not came here in Denmark as an au pair but I know a lot of au pair and heard their stories on how they were being mistreated or slaved. As early as 2004 the Filipino community in Denmark were already alarmed of the problems of the au pair scheme which was brought to attention to the first Pulong ng Bayan in 2003 at Helsingborg where I joined together with the rest of the Babaylan Denmark at the other Filipino organization in Nordic. The embassy can not do anything because of the ban and there is no bilateral agreements between Denmark and the Philippines so the au pair have to rely on themselves or seek help from different Filipino organizations when they have problems.
But who can help them if they themselves will not report their situation to the authorities. How many Filipino au pairs who said NO this is not part of my job, I think not too many when they are required to work more than the allowed 30 hours / week. That is why I created this au pair awareness blog to know the au pair rights. It is not fair that the host families used au pairs as “maid”, or domestic helpers and just pay them 2500 danish Kroner. But Filipinos should not also forget that they also have the responsibility to knowtheir rights and say NO if they are being mistreated. That what this awareness came into being that even just a little bit can save a soul from ignorance. Filipino Au pairs should also know the culture and the language and vice versa which is the true meaning of au pair.
So if you are a visitor avail of the free gestures by browsing thru the post and leave a relevant comment. I’m not an expert but I can refer you to the people or website that are knowledgeable in the au pairs right. Once more this is not an agency so I can not accommodate if you ask me to assist you to find host family. There’s a lot of agency out there free or with fee but I wish you all Goodluck.
Do you think I misuse this site or domain? What do you think?
Tags: au pair advocacy, au pair problems, aupair awareness, Aupair's Information, filipin au pair, Philippines aupair ban
Cathy, The filipina au pair
This is Catherine when she was in Holland, her picture reflects sweetness and contentment of her experience with her host family in Holland. But she asked me not to published her present picture because she lost weight because she don’t want her family to worry when they see her now.
Catherine story is one of the many Filipina sad stories about the bad aupair situation in Denmark. I met her last Saturday sobbing while telling me her sad flight, her sad experiences with mind you 2 danish families.
The 1st danish host family
Catherine came to Denmark almost 5 months ago hoping to broaden her cultural horizons since she already worked as an aupair in Holland for 1 year she want to extent her stay in Europe. Nearing the end of her contract in Holland she tried to find possible au pair job in Denmark and she made contact to a family in Hellerup and they hired her as their au pair or offer (that’s danish for victim).
She received 2,500 dkk monthly in allowance thats the minimum allowance set up by the state but she worked more than the allowed maximum of 30 days per week. She was asked to baby sit for many hours sometimes 10 hours per week and she tried to talked to them and they said that they will see until she noticed she was already five months. It is not only long working hours but it’s more of how they treated her badly like she was not a part of the family but a house help. For along time she can not sleep and lost so much weight and she cannot take it anymore then one day while she was crying in the train station wondering what kind of hell she end up with. Another au pair approached her and gave her a telephone number of a family who is looking for an au pair. When she informed her host that she will transfer to a new family they immediately asked her to leave and sign a paper that she is transferring to this and that but it also written there without her knowledge (it was in danish) that her service as their au pair were paid but actually they owed her at least more than half a months salary but they told her that they will send it to her new address. They gå væk translated go out go out while laughing and shouted you will work your head and ass anywhere. Well maybe she’s witch because it became true. Just read on.
The 2nd danish host family
She then contacted that family in Holte where they promised her 3000 DKK allowance and a bus ticket to the city in her free time but it turned out that this 2nd family was worse than the first one. She starts to work 7.15 prepare breakfast and pack lunch, feed the kids, prepare the clothes and bathe and clothe them. She has to clean the house pick up the kids in Hellerup, do the laundry, help with the assignment, cook dinner, feed kids, prepare clothes for the next day etc. until around 8 pm. Wow that’s more than 10 hours everyday. For few days she don’t even have any break for meal just drank some tea that’s all. So when she received her schedule she reminded the lady of the house that she should only work max. 5 hours and also give her some breaks according to the contract they both signed but the dot the answer “You should see a doctor,I think you are depressed”, who will be depressed with that schedule just take a look below.
Cathy's Schedule
- When she went to the Foreign Service office to submit her new contract for the 2nd host she told them about her 1st host and showed the paper that she signed but they said that she can not used it for anything and ask them about her salary they said that they going to write them that they have to pay her.
- Sunday she told the 2nd host that she don’t want to stay with them because of the long hours and it’s ok with them. Monday she went back again to the Foreign Service office with the lady (2nd host) to cancel the contract Cathy had submitted in the weekend but before that Cathy had to prepare breakfast and lunch of the children. I advised her that she make it sure that the conversation is in English but no they spoke in Danish and she tried to but the lady said that they will translate to her later. She asked the one worker or attendant from the foreign service if she can state the reason why she’s leaving the answer is”IT DOESN’T MATTER”. That I can not understand because according to their supervisors all au pairs that will change families should state why so if they are abused then they can reprimand the family or banning them to use the au pair system. If they heard her reasons they can tell that woman to do what is right and respect the right of the au pair. Now that lady is in the internet also looking for au pair but one Filipina she had interviewed said she wa offered only 2,500 DKK only and she thinks badly of Filipina then why she wants filipina? duh.
Tags: abuse of aupair, aupair allowed work hours, aupair in denmark, aupair in holland, aupair rights, aupair stories, filipinaaupair
COUNSELLING
for
PHILIPPINE AU PAIRS
A Cooperation between Babaylan DK and
the Danish Women Council (Kvinderådet)
WEDNESDAYS
from 5 to 8 pm
Please call 70204909
Strictly in confidence, for free and we will connect you, if need be, to the right professional who can help you with your specific problem!
Fully Authorized Interpreter & Translator in two main Filipino languages:
Tagalog & Visayan
Tags: babaylan denmark, Counselling for Au pairs, filipina au pairs, Kvinderådet
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