Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Jofelle Tesorio

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780287938443Amsterdam (2).JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Typical Netherlands city<em>. File photo (J. Tesorio) </em></span></span></span></div><p>THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Philippine Embassy in The Hague will stop approving au pair contracts for Filipinos who wish to come to the Netherlands starting July 1, 2026.</p><p>The decision follows reports of abuses involving au pair agencies and host families. According to the embassy, it has “repeatedly” received complaints from au pairs who are made to work excessive hours and receive allowances below what is required. Many, the embassy said, are effectively “forced to work full-time as babysitters.”</p><p>“The suspension will remain in place until it is determined that a clear mechanism exists to address the issues encountered by au pairs and to ensure effective compliance by relevant parties with the regulations of the Philippines and the Netherlands on the au pair arrangement as a cultural exchange program,” the embassy said in a statement. </p><p>The Philippine government is currently investigating the situation of au pairs in the Netherlands. Until the investigation is completed, visa applications from Filipino au pairs will not be processed. Existing contracts will continue to be processed until July 1.</p><p>The embassy emphasized that the au pair program is intended as a cultural exchange for young people between 18 and 25 years old, allowing participants to learn about local society and culture. However, it noted that many families treat au pairs as an alternative to hiring domestic workers. Reports indicate that au pairs often spend most of their time on household chores and childcare, sometimes working beyond the maximum 30 hours per week, receiving less than the €340 monthly allowance, and not being granted the required two days off per week.</p><p>For comparison, babysitting or cleaning jobs in the Netherlands typically pay €15–25 per hour, meaning families would spend significantly more without an au pair.</p><p>The embassy added that similar measures have been implemented by Philippine embassies in France since 2016, Switzerland since 2017, and Germany since 2024 due to alleged abuses.</p><p>Local Dutch media reported that The Ministry of Justice and Security said it had taken note of the decision of the Philippine embassy, but they were not informed in advance. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780287698500Philippine embassy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The facade of the embassy of the Netherlands. <em>File photo (J. Tesorio) </em></span></span></span></div><div><strong>EXPLOITATIVE SCHEME </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Every year, around 2,000 au pairs from outside the EU come to the Netherlands, and this number has been steadily increasing. The Philippines consistently ranks as the top country of origin for au pairs in the Netherlands.</p><p>Several studies on the Dutch au pair system have found that the program—officially framed as a form of cultural exchange—often functions in practice as a cover for domestic work.</p><p>Entry into the Netherlands as an au pair is arranged through accredited agencies recognized by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). These agencies act as sponsors, but the process resembles job recruitment: candidates undergo interviews and screening, and once approved, their profiles are posted for potential host families. Interested families then conduct interviews to determine whether the au pair is a suitable match.</p><p>The recruitment process is further detailed in a master’s thesis from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University by Mitchie Boncodin‑Isip, titled “Who Cares about Au Pairs? A Study on the Work and Social Protection Experiences of Filipina Au Pairs in the Netherlands.”</p><p>“Some au pairs later on attended orientation on Dutch culture and what to expect for being an au pair; while the other au pairs have only become aware of their duties upon signing the contract. Other au pairs also recalled that they must go through a week-long training where they are taught housekeeping and even biking skills,” it noted. </p><p>It said that while a number of au pair agencies regularly check on au pairs and organize events for them, many have also negative experiences.</p><p>“Bianca, who needed to change her au pair agency and eventually transferred to another host family said: ‘They need to balance the story of the host family and the au pair. In my previous agency, they are siding with the story of my host family. They need to check the situation of the au pair, the relationship between the host family and au pair. I realized that this agency is just about money’,” the thesis read. </p><p>“Similarly, Ruth who has the same resentment said, ‘the au pair agency has to be fair and just. They should also listen to the au pair, not only to the host family. Not because the host family paid something, should mean that they will only listen to them.’ Likewise, Angel, who requested to break her contract because of overwork, was even reprimanded. ‘The au pair agency told me that I don’t have self-respect and that I am not considerate of my host family, who are their big client. This is even without asking me the reason behind my request’.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/8/9/migrant-groups-push-for-justice-for-11-filipinos-allegedly-exploited-by-dutch-employer-0925">Migrant groups push for justice for 11 Filipinos allegedly exploited by Dutch employer</a></div><p>In the thesis, interviewed au pairs shared exploitative experiences.</p><p>“I am just an au pair, but I feel like a slave because I don’t have privacy. When I sleep over to my friend’s house, they need to get my friend’s number, name, and address. It’s the same when I am meeting someone. They also need to get the name of the person. I feel like I am choking. I multitask like taking care of the child while at the same time cleaning the house. They were demanding too much like the house must be cleaned thoroughly. Also, during my off days in the weekend, I need to go home early because I need to babysit,” it said. </p><p>“I just didn’t like how the kids treat me. They spat on me, shouted at me. Sometimes, they even suspected me that I stole their laptop because they couldn’t see it. If the kid was not on the mood, the kid blamed it on me. The second kid was a sadist. If he did not like something, he will kick me, slap me, and spit on me. He spat on me twice. The host parents will get mad at the kids when these things happened. However, I discovered that they were also talking behind my back.” </p><p>Boncodin’s thesis recommended: “The au pairs, whose voices would like to be heard, insist that the au pair agencies must: a) protect the au pairs especially when they made aware that the au pairs are being exploited, and b) ensure that the host family is following the rules and regulations of the au pair scheme.”  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DUTCH IMMIGRATION WARNS OF EXPLOITATION </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>For years, there have been growing concerns about abuses within the au pair sector. According to the Dutch immigration service, “several dozen reports of abuse of the au pair scheme” have been filed in recent years.</p><p>In 2021, the Netherlands introduced stricter rules for the program. The maximum age for au pairs was lowered from 30 to 25, and au pairs were prohibited from being married or having children, including foster children. These changes were intended to reduce financial vulnerability and prevent exploitation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/pnp-pursuing-all-leads-to-track-down-dela-rosa-1223">DFA chief Lazaro visit to Netherlands tackles maritime security, PH-EU ties</a> </div><p>Despite these measures, many au pairs continue to report being required to work more than the permitted 30 hours per week and to perform heavy household tasks, such as intensive cleaning or garden maintenance. Under the regulations, au pairs are only allowed to perform light housework, including shopping, laundry, and cooking.</p><p>Concerns intensified last year when a Dutch television program exposed exploitative practices at the au pair agency Nina Care. The agency reportedly failed to properly screen au pairs and was unreachable when problems arose. As a result, the IND revoked Nina Care’s permit, stating that the company had “repeatedly violated the rules in the past two years and has not shown enough that it wants or can improve the situation.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OVERHAUL OF AU PAIR SYSTEM NEEDED</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780287989082Au pairs.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A group of au pairs gather during an independence day event in the Netherlands. <em>File photo (J. Tesorio) </em></span></span></span></div><p>Interest and advocacy groups have expressed concern over the Philippine Embassy’s decision.</p><p>Center for Philippine Concerns (CPC), which advocates for Filipinos in the Netherlands, said “this move effectively denies Filipino au pairs access to the Netherlands, while little is done to address the root causes of exploitation and abuse.” </p><p>“For years, the au pair program has been promoted as a ‘cultural exchange,’ but in practice many Filipino women perform housework and childcare for pocket money of €300 to €350 per month—far below the Dutch minimum wage.”</p><p>Eunice Asis, a Filipino migrants rights advocate and who supports au pairs and others in difficult situations, said she recognizes reports of alleged exploitation &quot;should prompt a serious discussion about whether the program should be fundamentally reformed or abolished altogether.&quot;</p><p>However, she thinks the decision of the embassy to suspend the notarization of au pair contracts creates confusion.</p><p>“The Dutch government has not suspended the au pair program and it continues to operate legally. What is creating confusion right now is the decision on the Philippine side to suspend or limit authentication procedures without clearly communicating what alternative process, if any, is available for applicants. If the goal is to protect Filipino migrants, then there should be clear guidelines, transparent communication, and practical solutions for those who are directly affected,” she said in a Facebook post. </p><p>“From my own experience handling cases, notarized or authenticated contracts by themselves do not stop abuse. I have assisted au pairs who experienced exploitation even when all the required documents were in place. I have also seen how the au pair program can become a pathway for some young people to enter Europe and later remain without residence permit, often because of limited opportunities, broken placements, or the hope of building a future beyond the temporary program. That is why any discussion about protection should go beyond paperwork and focus on stronger monitoring, faster responses to complaints, accountability for agencies and host families, and real support for vulnerable au pairs.” </p><p>Consultations by Dutch agencies with Filipino organizations and other stakeholders to improve the situation of au pairs took place in 2006, 2011 and 2012. One of those consulted was the Bayanihan Foundation, which helps Filipinas in difficult situations. Among those discussed were hours of work and what were considered light work. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PATHWAY TO EUROPE </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite the exploitative conditions, many au pairs remain motivated to join the program because it offers them a chance to travel to Europe.</p><p>In an informal conversation with this reporter a few months ago, several au pairs admitted that their primary motivation was the opportunity to see Europe and explore the world. They were aware that the allowance they received was not enough to save or send money home, and some even acknowledged that they earned higher salaries in the Philippines.</p><p>This finding aligns with Boncodin‑Isip’s study, which noted that au pairs were often driven by aspirations to travel, live abroad, learn a foreign culture, and pursue personal development.</p><p>As the study described, “for someone who has no migration history like Anna, Grace, Mae, Fe, and Cheska (all pseudonyms), being in the Netherlands as an au pair is a dream come true, as they have been musing about living abroad since childhood.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A DAY IN AU PAIR&#x27;S LIFE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In Boncodin‑Isip’s thesis, a typical day in an au pair’s life is described in detail.</p><p>Luz, one of the participants, shares: “I wake up at 7 in the morning. I cook breakfast for the family and prepare the lunch box of the kids. After that, I bring the kids to school and later pick them up. I tidy up their rooms, then wash and fold the clothes when the kids and my host parents leave. In the evening, I prepare the dining table and sometimes cook for them.”</p><p>Most au pairs follow a similar routine: they start early to prepare breakfast and school lunches, send the children off, and then clean or do laundry once the house is quiet. In the afternoon, they pick up the kids, and in the evening they help with dinner. Some au pairs mainly babysit, especially in families with babies, focusing on supporting the mother with childcare. Many describe the work as light because of household appliances and, in some homes, a regular cleaner. </p><p>However, in practice, their working hours often extend beyond what is stated in their contracts.</p><p>On weekends, au pairs said they spend time experiencing Dutch culture or going out with friends—usually fellow au pairs. They visit tourist sites and try local food. Host families also often introduce them to Dutch treats such as stroopwafels (thin waffles filled with syrup) and salted herring, or take them to places like the Zaanse Schans windmills and wooden shoe museums.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DqtP4i99X8c?si=ENrbW2LlzeqQeRn4" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" spellcheck="false"></iframe></div>

<p>The Philippine Embassy in The Hague will stop approving au pair contracts for Filipinos who wish to come to the Netherlands starting July 1, 2026.</p>

The Philippine Embassy in The Hague will stop approving au pair contracts for Filipinos who wish to come to the Netherlands starting July 1, 2026.

Philippines to suspend au pair deployment to Netherlands by July due to alleged abuses

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Philippines to suspend au pair deployment to Netherlands by July due to alleged abuses

Jofelle Tesorio,

TFCN-The Netherlands

Published June 01, 2026 01:15 PM PHT

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