"This leaflet applies to you if you are a Philippine national, employed as a member of the service staff (E Permit) of a foreign representation (embassy, permanent representation, consular post) or as a member of the private domestic staff (F Permit) of a member of a foreign representation or an officer of an international organization."
I'm not even reading between the lines here... The maid can come here on an E or F permit depending on the nature of the employers work.
There is a special scheme for everyone surely? I'm special, you're special, everyones special - right?
Your link discusses 'first employment' and 'changing job'. The maids are 'special' because they are continuing employment with the household. This is the same as UK immigration rules, i.e. you would need to show that the maid has been in continuous service for a period before applying. And I doubt the maid would be able to switch employer once here (I guess we all know that much). beyond that, talk to a lawyer.
I suggest you try that line with immigration authorities. You will be met with much hilarity.
You say that because you assume that Swiss immigration rules are the same as UK immigration rules. Which (albeit this might come as a surprise to you) they aren't. Unless you can come up with some evidence to the contrary ?!
No - For example my wife works in a high street department store and she gets to talk to many Filipinos who are just passing through with thier employers. A couple she has met are trying to get away, but others just do not realise that the money and rights they are currently working under/for ammount to slave labour in Switzerland.
Information is exchanged very quickly and some do something about their situations, sometimes withe either help or advice from people like my wife
Most "maids" are just bothered about supporting their families back home, but they still want to get a better deal if they can.
Unfortunately, she cannot come as an au pair. The program for Aupairs is not one of having hired help, but more an oppertunity for those who do not live here to learn of the culture.
As an au pair here I am bound by many rules. Under the age of 30 (25 now as of Jan 1 2008), I am required to be learning the language of my canton, my permit is a restricted "L" which means that every 6 months I must prove that I am following all the rules. An au pair can only be of EU, US, CA, SA, NZ or AUS nationality. And mostly, I cannot have such permit for more than 18 months. And I will never be allowed to au pair again in CH. It's a one shot deal.
Honestly, I am sure you like who you have. But I recomdn someone who can speak french if you have children. It will help them learn the language so much better. I know living in the Geneva area you do not need french, but why not learn?
And since it does cross some peoples minds, don't do it illegally. A family friend here had an illegal au pair. She got pregnant with her bf. The family now has to pay for the delivery etc since she has no insurance. Paying was cheaper than what would happen if she turned them in for having an illegal. Like someone else said, all she has to do is contact one of the MANY NGOs here and they'd make a case for her.
I do not understand your statement. The reason I am asking for this is symply that we want to take our domestic helper with us who otherwise would have to come back to Philipines without any job. We want to do that not to save money, it is the opposite, we would pay whatever it has to be paid and we would pay according to market. She has been working with us for a long time and our children love her. She always tells us she would like to stay with us wherever we go. We feel she is almost part of our family. It would be cheaper for us to hire somebody directly in Switzerland but we want her to come with us.
It seems like you are one of the good employees. My problem is that I hear so many negative scenarios from my wife. I apologise for assuming that you were looking for a cheap option to bring hired help with your family. I have heard so many stories or with-holding payments for over a year, confiscation of the girls passport and even cases of enforced sexual demands from people my wife has helped. Sometimes I only see the worse in situations. Please ignore my comments in your case.
Honestly, interesting though people's views are here, if it's important to you then you are going to have to contact them at some stage and it's the surest and quickest way of finding out what the rules are, even if the answer isn't what you want to hear. If the answer is yes, that's great. If it's no, then you have more time to help your maid find a suitable alternative position before you have to leave which is the best "thank you" you can give her if she isn't able to follow you to CH. Unless people have seen the conditions in which some Filipina maids live and work under in Asia it's hard to understand the plight of so many of them. Those who have a good employer are very fortunate. Your concern does you credit.
Thanks a lot for the advice. I will contact on Monday the Swiss Authorities in Taipei for information and depending on the results I may also contact the Embasy in Manila as you suggest. Hopefully we can get something positive otherwise it will be really hard to communicate to our helper the bad news. We would then look for a job for her probably in my home country in Europe where it is not that dificult (with some of my family) and try to rescue her after some years. Thanks really a lot for the advice we are receiving through this forum.