Showing posts with label EU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EU. Show all posts
Saturday, December 5, 2009
More Filipino 'au pairs' going to Europe
OSLO - Filipino au pairs from Denmark and Norway are set to arrive here in Oslo this week for a conference to discuss their situation and come up with recommendations for problems they confront as au pairs.
More and more Filipinas are coming to Scandinavia and Europe to work as au pairs, a cultural exchange arrangement that allows cultural visits of young people from all over the world in host families in exchange for light work such as babysitting and some housework.
In Norway, the number of au pairs that have entered the country has jumped from 78 in 2000 to 2,090 in 2008 according to reports from the Norwegian Immigration Department (UDI). This means that 7 out of 10 au pair permits issued by the department are given to Filipinos despite the ban on au pair deployment by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) since 1997.
In her 2009 FAFO research study, "On Equal terms? An evaluation of the Norwegian au pair scheme", Cecile Oeien attributed the high demand for Filipino au pairs in Norway to the global reputation of Filipinos as professional, hardworking houseworkers.
Exploitative?
However, the au pair arrangement has been widely criticized in Norwegian media as exploitative of young people who are being made to work as underpaid and overworked househelps in Norwegian households. Au pairs in Norway generally receive up to 4000 kroners a month (about P32,000) in allowance instead of a salary. The host usually shoulders travel and lodging costs, and language course tuition.
In another study, "Global workers in the Norwegian Welfare State", Ragnhild Sollund of the Norwegian Social Science Center (NOVA) found that Filipino au pairs in the country are generally contented with their situation but the arrangement, as it exists today, leaves room for exploitation and compares the au pair's situation to that of a "lottery" where one can either end up either with a good or bad employer.
This situation, Sollund says, is due to the unclear rules in the au pair scheme in Norway that does not allow compensation for more work done over that is stipulated in the scheme. The UDI rules specify that the au pair should only do light work, babysitting and care of animals but cannot perform work of a househelp or a full-time nanny. The distinction lies in the number of hours worked and not of the type of work performed.
Au pair protection
The FAFO study also shared Sollund's findings and recommended that the present structural framework of the au pair arrangement be redefined to reflect the changes in the actual work performed by the au pair, their relations to their employers in order to prevent possible exploitation. It also called for an establishment of an independent organization to protect the au pairs from exploitation by providing help to navigate the Norwegian bureaucracy, information on au pair regulations and the different public services that can be availed of.
Filipino au pairs who have encountered problems with their employers have often turned to social networks such as the church, Filipino organizations and even families and friends to seek help. There is, however, a growing need for a support mechanism for the au pairs such that initiatives to bring them together culminated in the holding of a conference.
The conference to be held on November 20, dubbed "Daughters of Globalization: A Conference about Filipino Au pairs in Denmark and Norway", is being organized by the Babaylan-Denmark, the Philippine Women's Network in Europe in cooperation with local Filipino organizations in Norway. - Macel Ingles, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau | 11/18/2009 12:14 PM
Sunday, June 28, 2009
OFWs in Europe vs hike in passport fees
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:51:00 02/13/2009
MANILA, Philippines -- Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Europe, particularly in Italy, are protesting the increase in the cost of passport and other consular fees imposed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the group Migrante-Europe said Friday.
In an e-mail sent to media outfits, Migrante-Europe's Alex Gregorio said protest actions are being planned against the increase, which he quoted the DFA as saying is due to the "drastic drop in the local currencies vis-à-vis the United States dollar."
DFA spokesman Bayani Mangibin agreed that foreign currency adjustment is one of the reasons for the effective increase, which was originally scheduled November 2008 but became effective January 2009.
Quoting Philippine Ambassador to Italy Philippe Lhuillier, Mangibin said the other reason for the effective increase is the increased cost of the machine readable passport, the new travel document required by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The DFA spokesman said that compared to the embassies of other Asian countries, the cost of Philippine passports is lower.
Gregorio said the protest actions are being spearheaded by the Lampada-United OFWs in Italy. He said various Filipino groups from Rome, Milan, Bologna, Firenze, and Mantova will meet toward the last week of the February to further firm up the plans to pressure the
Arroyo government and the DFA to repeal the memorandum that effectively raised consular services of Philippine diplomatic posts in Europe.
He said other Filipino groups in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and The Netherlands are also studying the new increases.
In an open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lampada-United OFWs in Italy called the increase "arbitrary, anomalous, undemocratic and unjust since we were not informed neither consulted prior to its approval."
The OFWs in Italy also said the recent increases have further aggravated their financial situation, given the uncertainties and other effects of the global financial crisis.
"Massive layoffs and financial losses among our Italian employers have led to the loss of our jobs, reduction of working hours and increased our vulnerabilities. Added to this is the rising cost of living while our salaries remained the same," they said.
The OFW s in Italy also said the current government is planning to impose a new tax on migrant workers of between 50 and 200 euros when they renew their permit to stay.
"But what is worst is the situation of undocumented OFWs who have been penalized as criminals under the Bossi-Fini Law and exacerbated by the 2008 Security Program Measure of the Berlusconi government," they added.
The group also demanded that the DFA take measures to protect compatriots, particularly the undocumented against the Bossi-Fini Law, the Security Package Measures of the Berlusconi government, and the Europe Return Directive, which are "directed against the undocumented migrants leading to their criminalization and deportation."
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:51:00 02/13/2009
MANILA, Philippines -- Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Europe, particularly in Italy, are protesting the increase in the cost of passport and other consular fees imposed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the group Migrante-Europe said Friday.
In an e-mail sent to media outfits, Migrante-Europe's Alex Gregorio said protest actions are being planned against the increase, which he quoted the DFA as saying is due to the "drastic drop in the local currencies vis-à-vis the United States dollar."
DFA spokesman Bayani Mangibin agreed that foreign currency adjustment is one of the reasons for the effective increase, which was originally scheduled November 2008 but became effective January 2009.
Quoting Philippine Ambassador to Italy Philippe Lhuillier, Mangibin said the other reason for the effective increase is the increased cost of the machine readable passport, the new travel document required by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The DFA spokesman said that compared to the embassies of other Asian countries, the cost of Philippine passports is lower.
Gregorio said the protest actions are being spearheaded by the Lampada-United OFWs in Italy. He said various Filipino groups from Rome, Milan, Bologna, Firenze, and Mantova will meet toward the last week of the February to further firm up the plans to pressure the
Arroyo government and the DFA to repeal the memorandum that effectively raised consular services of Philippine diplomatic posts in Europe.
He said other Filipino groups in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and The Netherlands are also studying the new increases.
In an open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lampada-United OFWs in Italy called the increase "arbitrary, anomalous, undemocratic and unjust since we were not informed neither consulted prior to its approval."
The OFWs in Italy also said the recent increases have further aggravated their financial situation, given the uncertainties and other effects of the global financial crisis.
"Massive layoffs and financial losses among our Italian employers have led to the loss of our jobs, reduction of working hours and increased our vulnerabilities. Added to this is the rising cost of living while our salaries remained the same," they said.
The OFW s in Italy also said the current government is planning to impose a new tax on migrant workers of between 50 and 200 euros when they renew their permit to stay.
"But what is worst is the situation of undocumented OFWs who have been penalized as criminals under the Bossi-Fini Law and exacerbated by the 2008 Security Program Measure of the Berlusconi government," they added.
The group also demanded that the DFA take measures to protect compatriots, particularly the undocumented against the Bossi-Fini Law, the Security Package Measures of the Berlusconi government, and the Europe Return Directive, which are "directed against the undocumented migrants leading to their criminalization and deportation."
Monday, June 1, 2009
‘EU Blue Card’ adopted for qualified migrants
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: June 01, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—The Council of the European Union has adopted a directive for the issuance and use of the so-called “EU Blue Card” which would facilitate entry and residence of highly qualified migrant professionals into Europe, INQUIRER.net learned Monday.
The directive adopted by the Council on May 25 would be effective in all of EU except the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark. It also did not limit the number of these special residence and work permit cards to be issued to migrants, leaving it to EU member-states to decide this.
In a move to address work shortages throughout the continent, the Council set up the parameters by which EU member-states may allow migrants to stay in Europe between one and four years, or three months longer than their work contract.
EU Blue Card holders, under the rules set by the directive, will enjoy equal treatment as Europeans in working conditions, including pay and dismissal; freedom of association; education, training, and recognition of qualifications; a number of provisions in national law regarding social security and pensions; access to goods and services, including procedures for obtaining housing, information, and counseling services; and free access to the entire territory of the member state concerned within the limits provided for by national law.
Designed to establish more attractive conditions for migrants to work in highly skilled jobs, the directive fast-tracks the procedure for issuing these cards first issued by France a couple of years ago.
Aside from the above-mentioned socio-economic rights, EU Blue Card holders will be entitled favorable conditions for family reunification and movement across Europe and back to their home countries.
“After 18 months of legal residence in the first member state as an EU Blue Card holder, the person concerned and his family members may move, under certain conditions, to a member-state other than the first member-state for the purpose of highly qualified employment,” the Council of the EU said in a statement.
The directive determines the common criteria to be set by the EU member-states for applicants of the Blue Card “without prejudice to more advantageous conditions provided for by national laws.”
After the publication of the directive in the Official Journal of the EU, the member-states will have two years to incorporate the new provisions into their domestic legislation.
There are about a million Filipinos (953,519) in Europe as of December 2007, a tenth (112,990) of which are irregular residents, half (555,542) of which are temporary residents, and a third (284,987) permanent residents.
Posted date: June 01, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—The Council of the European Union has adopted a directive for the issuance and use of the so-called “EU Blue Card” which would facilitate entry and residence of highly qualified migrant professionals into Europe, INQUIRER.net learned Monday.
The directive adopted by the Council on May 25 would be effective in all of EU except the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark. It also did not limit the number of these special residence and work permit cards to be issued to migrants, leaving it to EU member-states to decide this.
In a move to address work shortages throughout the continent, the Council set up the parameters by which EU member-states may allow migrants to stay in Europe between one and four years, or three months longer than their work contract.
EU Blue Card holders, under the rules set by the directive, will enjoy equal treatment as Europeans in working conditions, including pay and dismissal; freedom of association; education, training, and recognition of qualifications; a number of provisions in national law regarding social security and pensions; access to goods and services, including procedures for obtaining housing, information, and counseling services; and free access to the entire territory of the member state concerned within the limits provided for by national law.
Designed to establish more attractive conditions for migrants to work in highly skilled jobs, the directive fast-tracks the procedure for issuing these cards first issued by France a couple of years ago.
Aside from the above-mentioned socio-economic rights, EU Blue Card holders will be entitled favorable conditions for family reunification and movement across Europe and back to their home countries.
“After 18 months of legal residence in the first member state as an EU Blue Card holder, the person concerned and his family members may move, under certain conditions, to a member-state other than the first member-state for the purpose of highly qualified employment,” the Council of the EU said in a statement.
The directive determines the common criteria to be set by the EU member-states for applicants of the Blue Card “without prejudice to more advantageous conditions provided for by national laws.”
After the publication of the directive in the Official Journal of the EU, the member-states will have two years to incorporate the new provisions into their domestic legislation.
There are about a million Filipinos (953,519) in Europe as of December 2007, a tenth (112,990) of which are irregular residents, half (555,542) of which are temporary residents, and a third (284,987) permanent residents.
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