WHEREAS, the Department of Foreign Affairs imposed a ban on the deployment of au pairs to Europe in 1997 in view of the reported incidents of exploitations of Filipino au pairs such as unfair compensation, excessive working hours, discrimination and sexual abuse;

WHEREAS, Switzerland passed in 2008 the œLaw on the Admittance, Stay and Gainful Employment of Foreigners  and Swiss Canton Laws with provisions that ensure the protection of foreign workers including au pairs;

WHEREAS, Switzerland authorities proposed the lifting of the ban on the deployment of au pairs amid assurances of protection for them;

WHEREAS, the Department of Foreign Affairs has agreed to the lifting of the deployment ban on au pairs in countries which guarantee protection for them and subject to the conditions that DOLE and POEA shall prescribe;

WHEREAS, Switzerland has committed to observe the following requirements of the Philippine government on the deployment of au pairs, in addition to their existing regulations for au pairs: 

a. Provision on repatriation and on health insurance;
b. POEA/DOLE shall supervise the recruitment and deployment of au pairs; and
c. au pairs are issued work visas

WHEREAS, in view of the foregoing, the DOLE/POEA finds the compliance by Switzerland with its requirements to be a concrete step toward ensuring the welfare and protection of Filipino au pairs;

NOW, THEREFORE, the POEA Governing Board, in a meeting duly convened, RESOLVES, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the ban on the deployment of au pairs to Switzerland is hereby lifted and as such, au pairs shall be classified as overseas Filipino workers. The POEA shall issue the implementing guidelines for the processing of work documents of au pairs for Switzerland.

For compliance effective fifteen (15) days from publication of the implementing guidelines.

  (SGD.) MARIANITO D. ROQUE
  Secretary of Labor and Employment
  and Chairman of the Governing Board

(SGD.) LEONARDO B. DE OCAMPO         Member

(SGD.) GREGORIO S. OCA         Member

(SGD.) APOSTOL POE M. GRATELA         Member

(SGD.) GUILLERMA T. GABOR         Member

(SGD.) JENNIFER JARDIN-MANALILI
  Vice-Chairman