Download evaluation report of Norwegian au pair scheme
FAFO, an independent and multidisciplinary research foundation in Norway, has launched its evaluation of the Norwegian au pair scheme today, August 19, 2008.
The Norwegian au pair scheme is primarily defined as an arrangement to facilitate cultural experience and exchange, which allows young people to increase their language ability and gain greater knowledge of Norway and Norwegian culture by living with a Norwegian family. In return, the au pairs carry out tasks such as housework and childminding for their host family. Many though, in particular those coming from developing countries like the Philippines, come with added hopes and intentions of finding a way out of poverty or financial difficulty at home, in their country.
In Norway, the Filipinos represent the majority of au pairs despite the present ban on the deployment of au pairs from the Philippines. This ban makes au pairs more vulnerable to all sorts of abuses, both in the Philippines and in their host country. Traveling as au pair means traveling without security, since holders of au pair visas are neither registered by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO)nor by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
During the launching of the report, State Secretary Libe Rieber-Mohn, Norway’s State Secretary for integration, immigration and diversity matters, said that there is an on-going negotiations between Norway and The Philippines and the goal is to establish a bi-lateral agreement between the two countries. This negotiation will continue in autumn. If no agreement is reached, there is a chance that Norway will follow the Wien convention and respect Filipino law regarding a ban on travelling abroad as an au pair.
FAFO states in their website, www.fafo.no, that the new report “On Equal Terms?” is the outcome of an evaluation made by FAFO’s researcher, Cecille Øien, of the Norwegian au pair scheme.
| Fafo-report 2009:29 Cecilie Øien On equal terms?
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Allegedly, it is not only Norwegian politicians, but also some Danish politicians, who have waited for this report. This signifies that the outcome of this evaluation report in Norway, will most likely affect the danish au pair scheme. Hence, affecting most the Filipina au pairs who also represent the majority of au pairs in Denmark.
| Fafo is an independent and multidisciplinary research foundation focusing on social welfare and trade policy, labor and living conditions, public health, migration and integration, and transnational security and development issues. Fafo works within both a domestic Norwegian and larger international context. |
| - Information relayed to Babaylan DK by Raymond M. Kristiansen of Au Pinoy magazine for Filipino au pairs. |
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