Before reading this article, let me first tell you the history why I did this article eventhough writing is not one of my best skill...
I am currently a trainee in the Institute of Labor Studies, an attached agency of the Department of Labor Employment... Heaven forbid I was tasked to do a feature article... and this topic intrigue me... because not all average reasonable person knows about it. Even the Dean of our college doesn't know this..hehe
I also would like to thank for the help of my friends; Glad and Bern for editing my work!hehe and also to my Boss who let me do this article and let me re-write it for 3 times!
Also, Thank you ms. gen arroyo who replied on this topic...
To all au pairs! aja aja!eventhough the government hasn't been there for all of you!
So here it goes...
The Plight of Filipino au pairs
The Au Pair exchange program has been in the international arena for years. Au Pair is a French word means “on equal footing”. In Western countries, au pair refers to nannies. It started as an exchange of families of their youngsters with an acquaintance or friends abroad. This program is basically when families host a young person usually female and treat her as an equal member of the family with free board and lodging and a monthly allowance depending in the country. In return of this good favor, the person who is hired will do babysitting and little chores. Westerners treat au pair as their family member and not a common helper. Specifically Au Pairs focus on child care and the likes.
The Au pair program is culture enhancement in nature, where the young person can experience and learn different types of customs and also learn the traditions of the country itself. They also studied the countries language. It is a sort mix of a domestic helper and a typical student abroad that is why it heightens the standards of labor experience.
For years the number of Au pairs increased deliberately in Europe, the host continent for au pairs. This kind of cultural exchange practice is popular in European countries which eventually became a melting pot of au pairs from various countries in the world.
In 1969, the member states of the European Council formulated the Au Pair Placement in response to the increasing number of Au pair. The EU states use the Agreement as the basis for internal regulations concerning au pairs such as what counts as an au pair, minimum age requirement, the visa and health insurance requirements, the need for a contract of agreement between au pairs and host families, the responsibilities of an au pair and a host family. Violating and ignoring the rules means the concerned party has to face the law. However, every country has its own Au pair agreements to consider the rights and responsibilities of the people involved.
Filipinos play a special role in this significant Au pair program. Filipinos are the most sought after au pair in Europe. Since the early 90’s the Netherlands is a famous country for hiring au pairs. There is an estimated 700 Filipina au pairs in 1993 and 1995.
According to Europeans host families, Filipino Au pairs are excellent, modest, hardworking and has a good command in English. Filipino Au pairs are best preferred because of their honest performance as well as their affectionate feelings to children and they work hard even with less pay.
Unfortunately, on November 5, 1998 the Philippine government banned the sending of Filipino au pairs to Europe and the United States. Fair labor treatments for a justified labor were denied to some Filipino Au pairs. According to reports, a lot of them were exploited and deprived of the rights that they deserved. This grave concern led the Philippine Government to ban the sending of Filipino au pairs to countries concerned in order to protect its citizens who were engaged in this field. This led to the decrease of Filipina au pairs.
The au pair industry does not stop there. Though there was a ban, there are still a lot of young Filipinos who aspire to become an au pair because the demand calls for it. There are still numerous agencies looking for young Filipinos wanting to be an au pair who can go to Europe. Filipinos could not be stopped to be engaged in this program due to their dire need for money as this form of migration is their scapegoat to poverty. In order to leave the country, the Filipino applicant resorts to bribing officials at the immigration and other related agencies to this program or had someone in the host country to help them in applying in agencies just to obtain the necessary documents and other requirements needed. According to the Dutch Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst(IND) there are 661 Filipino au pairs from 2000 to 2005, and until recent years their numbers are stable. Some of them are undocumented, because they end up as domestic helpers with no working permit and some are tourist that extended their stay. This proves that the ban is not effective, and many young people realize that there are a lot of benefits in becoming an au pair and there is a growth of the number of au pair agencies catering for Filipinos.
The Commission on Filipino Overseas provides assistance to the President and Congress to formulate policies concerning Filipinos overseas. They develop and implement programs to promote the interest and well-being of Filipinos abroad, and they serve as forum for preserving and enhancing the social, economic, and cultural ties of Filipinos with the motherland. Lastly they provide services with appropriate government and private agencies in the transaction of business and similar ventures in the Philippines.
The Commission on Filipino Overseas is the one who is handling the au pair program before. They are in the partnership with the Exchange Visitors Program of the United States that increases the mutual understanding between the people of the US and other countries through educational and cultural exchanges. One of its 13 programs includes au pairing, but currently Philippines banned this program. In the Europe situation, the CFO had no agreements with any European countries.
It is the best interest of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) to remain committed to its policies and regulations concerning the plights of Au pair and to further enhance its nature and help improve serving the lives of the people involved in this endeavor. In response to the concern of the Filipino Au pairs and applicant, the IAPA has been extending its hands to the Philippine government in terms of lifting the ban. They felt that the government temporary ban is going to be permanent without having formal investigations. They want to show the Philippines that in the past decade since they ban the Au Pair program, many things have changed and improved for the real purpose of its vision. There are also a lot of governments and non-government agencies that actively supports and gives generous assistance to the different au pairs grievances on their experiences abroad. But they believe that acceptance of the government will greatly improve the quality of Filipino au pairs. The Au pairs have to face the reality that exploitation can never be scrapped but it can be prevented in many ways. The most important thing is that it still continues its vision in uplifting the knowledge of young people and giving them experience like no other.
European countries became the easy target for aspiring Filipino au pairs unlike in the United States mainly because their embassy is very strict when it comes to visa application for whatever purpose. So, there are no possibilities that Filipinos can apply in the US as an au pair.
I know that the government is still working on their policies but it seems to me that lifting the Au Pair ban should not wait until a new policy is made. It could disarm a lot of young Filipinos that are still waiting for the time that it would be legal again. I feel at ease to know that the government is taking up actions to protect its citizens but banning programs cannot solve issues like Au Pairing in Europe. I believe that they should have further study in what effects that this program can accumulate. If the Philippine government will work on new policies that can see the welfare of the overseas Filipinos that specializes in cultural education then I must say that they should make a move on lifting the ban immediately.
The CFO must be the first one to act in improving the au pair situation in the Philippines because they are the one who is in charge with this certain kind of program. Not only lifting the ban in the United States but also in Europe.
Opening the Au Pair program in the Philippines once again will offer a greater opportunity for the Filipinos who are in search for greener pasture. In addition, Europe is one big continent in which they can be educated that au pairs can use when they come back to their native land.
Migration helps a country through remittances and skills development but it has also its backlash. Due to this, it causes brain drain because their graduate school diploma together with their acquired knowledge is of no use so they reverse to lower type of jobs. A person also faces discrimination, exploitation and other issues that can bring them emotional stress.
Au pair program if regulated well can be a good source of work experience and deeper cultural understanding especially to the youth. It is a 1 year program that can be extended to a maximum period of 2 years. A better agreement between the Philippines and other host countries can be achieved if the au pair program will be maintained and supported by the government by establishing certified agencies. Eventually, this program can achieve its goal which cultural and educational enhancement. Problems with undocumented Filipinos will be solved as well as the brain drain issue. To give you an example, au pairs from Slovakia after working at the host country had found good jobs in their home country. Their experiences and education was credited. If the government will regulate the said program au pair will not illegally stay for a longer period of time because they are obliged to go back home and will be pleased to have good occupation based on their experiences and education abroad. They might say that we do not have enough resources to fund or open up developments for legalizing au pairs but I believe that it is their duty to find a way to make it easier for au pair Filipinos. They are also part of the overseas Filipino community so why discriminate them. It is the CFO and the government’s responsibility to be updated about this kind of issue so that no one will feel neglected by their own nation knowing that they cannot control the migration of Filipino au pairs in Europe.
The government’s participation in cultural exchange program like Au Pairing can give both parties an assurance that what are they doing is legal and both parties are accorded with just protection.
If they lift the ban it would be easy for the aspiring au pair to go to an agency that is recognized by the government. The government can also have an alliance with countries that can bring a lot of benefits especially in au pairing like having the exchange visitors program that the Philippines and the US are participating in. A lot of aspirants will get the chance to experience different host countries and be recognized as the best Au Pairs in the international community.
Let’s just cross our fingers and pray that better policies for this situation will be implemented for the whole welfare of the au pairs. We must keep on supporting them so that the government can act immediately. Let’s feel proud that this kind of situation will definitely increase the people’s initiative to act as one.
So to all the Filipino Au pairs, bear in mind the song of Orange and Lemons that goes: “pinoy ikaw ay pinoy, ipakita sa mundo, kung ano ang kaya mo… “
I am currently a trainee in the Institute of Labor Studies, an attached agency of the Department of Labor Employment... Heaven forbid I was tasked to do a feature article... and this topic intrigue me... because not all average reasonable person knows about it. Even the Dean of our college doesn't know this..hehe
I also would like to thank for the help of my friends; Glad and Bern for editing my work!hehe and also to my Boss who let me do this article and let me re-write it for 3 times!
Also, Thank you ms. gen arroyo who replied on this topic...
To all au pairs! aja aja!eventhough the government hasn't been there for all of you!
So here it goes...
The Plight of Filipino au pairs
The Au Pair exchange program has been in the international arena for years. Au Pair is a French word means “on equal footing”. In Western countries, au pair refers to nannies. It started as an exchange of families of their youngsters with an acquaintance or friends abroad. This program is basically when families host a young person usually female and treat her as an equal member of the family with free board and lodging and a monthly allowance depending in the country. In return of this good favor, the person who is hired will do babysitting and little chores. Westerners treat au pair as their family member and not a common helper. Specifically Au Pairs focus on child care and the likes.
The Au pair program is culture enhancement in nature, where the young person can experience and learn different types of customs and also learn the traditions of the country itself. They also studied the countries language. It is a sort mix of a domestic helper and a typical student abroad that is why it heightens the standards of labor experience.
For years the number of Au pairs increased deliberately in Europe, the host continent for au pairs. This kind of cultural exchange practice is popular in European countries which eventually became a melting pot of au pairs from various countries in the world.
In 1969, the member states of the European Council formulated the Au Pair Placement in response to the increasing number of Au pair. The EU states use the Agreement as the basis for internal regulations concerning au pairs such as what counts as an au pair, minimum age requirement, the visa and health insurance requirements, the need for a contract of agreement between au pairs and host families, the responsibilities of an au pair and a host family. Violating and ignoring the rules means the concerned party has to face the law. However, every country has its own Au pair agreements to consider the rights and responsibilities of the people involved.
Filipinos play a special role in this significant Au pair program. Filipinos are the most sought after au pair in Europe. Since the early 90’s the Netherlands is a famous country for hiring au pairs. There is an estimated 700 Filipina au pairs in 1993 and 1995.
According to Europeans host families, Filipino Au pairs are excellent, modest, hardworking and has a good command in English. Filipino Au pairs are best preferred because of their honest performance as well as their affectionate feelings to children and they work hard even with less pay.
Unfortunately, on November 5, 1998 the Philippine government banned the sending of Filipino au pairs to Europe and the United States. Fair labor treatments for a justified labor were denied to some Filipino Au pairs. According to reports, a lot of them were exploited and deprived of the rights that they deserved. This grave concern led the Philippine Government to ban the sending of Filipino au pairs to countries concerned in order to protect its citizens who were engaged in this field. This led to the decrease of Filipina au pairs.
The au pair industry does not stop there. Though there was a ban, there are still a lot of young Filipinos who aspire to become an au pair because the demand calls for it. There are still numerous agencies looking for young Filipinos wanting to be an au pair who can go to Europe. Filipinos could not be stopped to be engaged in this program due to their dire need for money as this form of migration is their scapegoat to poverty. In order to leave the country, the Filipino applicant resorts to bribing officials at the immigration and other related agencies to this program or had someone in the host country to help them in applying in agencies just to obtain the necessary documents and other requirements needed. According to the Dutch Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst(IND) there are 661 Filipino au pairs from 2000 to 2005, and until recent years their numbers are stable. Some of them are undocumented, because they end up as domestic helpers with no working permit and some are tourist that extended their stay. This proves that the ban is not effective, and many young people realize that there are a lot of benefits in becoming an au pair and there is a growth of the number of au pair agencies catering for Filipinos.
The Commission on Filipino Overseas provides assistance to the President and Congress to formulate policies concerning Filipinos overseas. They develop and implement programs to promote the interest and well-being of Filipinos abroad, and they serve as forum for preserving and enhancing the social, economic, and cultural ties of Filipinos with the motherland. Lastly they provide services with appropriate government and private agencies in the transaction of business and similar ventures in the Philippines.
The Commission on Filipino Overseas is the one who is handling the au pair program before. They are in the partnership with the Exchange Visitors Program of the United States that increases the mutual understanding between the people of the US and other countries through educational and cultural exchanges. One of its 13 programs includes au pairing, but currently Philippines banned this program. In the Europe situation, the CFO had no agreements with any European countries.
It is the best interest of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) to remain committed to its policies and regulations concerning the plights of Au pair and to further enhance its nature and help improve serving the lives of the people involved in this endeavor. In response to the concern of the Filipino Au pairs and applicant, the IAPA has been extending its hands to the Philippine government in terms of lifting the ban. They felt that the government temporary ban is going to be permanent without having formal investigations. They want to show the Philippines that in the past decade since they ban the Au Pair program, many things have changed and improved for the real purpose of its vision. There are also a lot of governments and non-government agencies that actively supports and gives generous assistance to the different au pairs grievances on their experiences abroad. But they believe that acceptance of the government will greatly improve the quality of Filipino au pairs. The Au pairs have to face the reality that exploitation can never be scrapped but it can be prevented in many ways. The most important thing is that it still continues its vision in uplifting the knowledge of young people and giving them experience like no other.
European countries became the easy target for aspiring Filipino au pairs unlike in the United States mainly because their embassy is very strict when it comes to visa application for whatever purpose. So, there are no possibilities that Filipinos can apply in the US as an au pair.
I know that the government is still working on their policies but it seems to me that lifting the Au Pair ban should not wait until a new policy is made. It could disarm a lot of young Filipinos that are still waiting for the time that it would be legal again. I feel at ease to know that the government is taking up actions to protect its citizens but banning programs cannot solve issues like Au Pairing in Europe. I believe that they should have further study in what effects that this program can accumulate. If the Philippine government will work on new policies that can see the welfare of the overseas Filipinos that specializes in cultural education then I must say that they should make a move on lifting the ban immediately.
The CFO must be the first one to act in improving the au pair situation in the Philippines because they are the one who is in charge with this certain kind of program. Not only lifting the ban in the United States but also in Europe.
Opening the Au Pair program in the Philippines once again will offer a greater opportunity for the Filipinos who are in search for greener pasture. In addition, Europe is one big continent in which they can be educated that au pairs can use when they come back to their native land.
Migration helps a country through remittances and skills development but it has also its backlash. Due to this, it causes brain drain because their graduate school diploma together with their acquired knowledge is of no use so they reverse to lower type of jobs. A person also faces discrimination, exploitation and other issues that can bring them emotional stress.
Au pair program if regulated well can be a good source of work experience and deeper cultural understanding especially to the youth. It is a 1 year program that can be extended to a maximum period of 2 years. A better agreement between the Philippines and other host countries can be achieved if the au pair program will be maintained and supported by the government by establishing certified agencies. Eventually, this program can achieve its goal which cultural and educational enhancement. Problems with undocumented Filipinos will be solved as well as the brain drain issue. To give you an example, au pairs from Slovakia after working at the host country had found good jobs in their home country. Their experiences and education was credited. If the government will regulate the said program au pair will not illegally stay for a longer period of time because they are obliged to go back home and will be pleased to have good occupation based on their experiences and education abroad. They might say that we do not have enough resources to fund or open up developments for legalizing au pairs but I believe that it is their duty to find a way to make it easier for au pair Filipinos. They are also part of the overseas Filipino community so why discriminate them. It is the CFO and the government’s responsibility to be updated about this kind of issue so that no one will feel neglected by their own nation knowing that they cannot control the migration of Filipino au pairs in Europe.
The government’s participation in cultural exchange program like Au Pairing can give both parties an assurance that what are they doing is legal and both parties are accorded with just protection.
If they lift the ban it would be easy for the aspiring au pair to go to an agency that is recognized by the government. The government can also have an alliance with countries that can bring a lot of benefits especially in au pairing like having the exchange visitors program that the Philippines and the US are participating in. A lot of aspirants will get the chance to experience different host countries and be recognized as the best Au Pairs in the international community.
Let’s just cross our fingers and pray that better policies for this situation will be implemented for the whole welfare of the au pairs. We must keep on supporting them so that the government can act immediately. Let’s feel proud that this kind of situation will definitely increase the people’s initiative to act as one.
So to all the Filipino Au pairs, bear in mind the song of Orange and Lemons that goes: “pinoy ikaw ay pinoy, ipakita sa mundo, kung ano ang kaya mo… “
3 comments:
Nice article. Nice blog! :D :D Blog on, Enzy!
Thanks jj! congrats for winning IDC!
nice post about Au Pairs! I didn't know that they were called that way..keep it up! Congrats ms.4th yr rep! :)
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