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 exploitation of Filipino au pairs such as unfair compensation, excessive working hours, discrimination and sexual abuse;

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, in March 2010, the POEA Governing Board lifted the ban on deployment of au pairs to Switzerland after close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and in consideration of laws passed by the Swiss government in 2008, particularly 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, Norway authorities proposed the lifting of the ban on the deployment of Filipino au pairs to their country amid assurances of protection for them;

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

* A provision on repatriation of au pairs in case of death, illness or injury shall be incorporated in Norway ™s new official contract for au pairs which will be implemented by June 2010

* Cooperation in the preparation and conduct of a comprehensive pre-departure orientation for Filipino au pairs bound for Norway

* POEA/DOLE shall supervise the recruitment and deployment of au pairs, and

WHEREAS, in view of the foregoing, the DOLE/POEA finds the compliance by Norway 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 Norway is hereby lifted and as such, au pairs shall be classified as overseas Filipino workers. The POEA shall issue the implementing guidelines for the documentation and processing of au pairs bound for Norway.

For compliance effective 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.) GUILLERMA T. GABOR         Member

(SGD.) JENNIFER JARDIN-MANALILI
  Vice-Chairman