OSLO, Norway -– A Norwegian television featured a Filipina in connection with the expose of local paper Dagavisen on exploitations of au pair (foreign-national domestic) for everything from maid and babysitter to pure slave during its show here Monday night.

“Many consider the au pair as the same as housemaids, only cheaper. If your families need babysitter or maid, (you) must hire people with the same wages and working conditions that (of the) nordmenn (the Norwegian) rather than to exploit people from other countries who come here as an au pair,” Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) Secretary Trine Lise Sundnes was quoted in the report as saying.

Au pair means "on a par" or "equal to", indicating that the relationship is intended to be one of equals: the au pair is intended to become a member of the family, albeit a temporary one, rather than a domestic servant.

Sundnes believes that the system has evolved into “social dumping disguised as (Cultural Exchange), and that there is something that Norway cannot acknowledge.”

The leader said that the organization “has now switch(ed) the LO alarm and will discontinue the scheme unless the government takes action.”

She said that the organization has received (complaints/reports) from au pair being used as cheap labor.

“Working hours of an au pair should not exceed 30 hours a week, and guidelines for Immigration are clear that they should not be used as servant or babysitter. The main purpose (of their stay in the country) is Culture,” she explained.

Based on the Directorate of Migration (UDI) Circular 2007-020V2, the purpose of the au pair scheme is to give young people aged between 18 and 30 an opportunity to learn Norwegian and become acquainted with Norwegian culture through living with and participating in the daily life of a Norwegian family.

Under its mandatory standard contract, the au pair should be given minimum pay/pocket money of NOK 4,000 gross (before) tax per month in addition to free board and lodging and an opportunity to learn Norwegian language with course fees of up to NOK 6,000 per year paid for the host family.

Au pairs must live in their host family’s home, where they must have a room of their own and they are only permitted to work for the host family at a maximum of 30 working hours per week. Work over and above the required time is prohibited even in return for extra pay. They are also not allowed to work for other employers or private persons.

Ms. Sundnes expressed belief that “a state audit system must be in place, and that the (contract) between the au pair and host family must take place through an agency.”

Meanwhile, deployment of Filipino au pairs to Europe has long been banned for reasons that they are allegedly being used in prostitution. However, the influx of au pairs in Norway continues and, to date, there are about 1,000 Filipino au pairs working in Oslo. There are also Filipina au pairs in Denmark.

An au pair, who asked not to be identified for security reason, alleged that she paid P30,000 before her flight to Oslo. The host family covered the payment for the Immigration officer.

“A meeting is arranged two days before my departure. We met at the airport where I gave the money and was given instruction which Immigration officer I would approach during my departure,” she narrated.

Another au pair who also requested anonymity for fear that her relatives who are planning to come here would be affected, said that payment to the Immigration official ranges from P15,000 to P30,000.

She related that they were introduced to the former Immigration officer by a person they met at the Norwegian Embassy when they applied for their visa. They, however, failed to give names saying they have forgotten their names already because they only met once.

Another au pair related that if it is impossible to leave via Manila International Airport, some passed through Singapore or Hongkong airports.

“It is easier there, there are no questions asked why we are going to Oslo,” she said.

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