FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS. This issue:

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1 November 2012 Issue # 2 FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS This issue: Comics FOA Au Pair Group (short background) Events and Activities Au Pairs Column Paternity & Child Support Halloween Trivia Announcements and Events Editorial Staff: Jean Gocotano Mae Maglunob Mary Singco Jess Layda Contributors: Leniel Panganiban 2 anonymous contributors Hi Ana!Good day. Hi Maria good to see you. Are you free this weekend? I am inviting you to join us in our Union Orientation in FOA. Yes, FOA the 3 rd largest Union here in Denmark which au pairs can join and be a member. What does FOA offers to au pairs? FOA? FOA offers membership to all interested au pairs and protects the rights of au pairs. You can learn more if you will join us in our regular Union Orientation Seminar and you can ask questions too. Illustrated by: Leniel - Helsingør FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 1 of 5

2 FOA AU PAIR GROUP The Au Pair Group under FOA started last July 2011 with few members. Later on, it was formalized as part of the Union FOA in August The Au Pair group chose a spokesperson from among themselves and formed a board. Because of hard work and dedication, the au pair group s work became known to many au pairs. FOA provides au pairs a network all over Denmark, it organizes Union Orientation to new members and other activities, disseminates information regarding the rights of au pairs and provides legal assistance, as well as protects au pair s rights and welfare. Some of the cases that FOA has handled involved monetary claims (salary, holiday and other issues), paternity cases, etc. FOA-AU PAIRS EVENTS & GATHERINGS FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 2 of 5

3 AU PAIRS COLUMN I have been an au pair in Denmark for 9 months. Before Denmark, I worked in Malaysia for few years. After few months of working in Denmark, I met a Danish guy who changed my life. I got pregnant and went back to the Philippines before giving birth. I gave birth to a healthy baby girl last February this year. The father of my baby promised me to support my baby but promise was broken. I don t have any papers signed about support for my child. FOA helped me in filing my case and arranged a meeting with the father of my daughter to have a signed document regarding child support. Anonymous PATERNITY I am a Filipina working as an au pair here in Denmark and have worked for 18 months, and during that time I met one Turkish guy through his friends, and he started courting me. For the first few months of our relationship, it went well until the time that I got pregnant and as expected he wants it to be aborted, but I did not agree with it. So he started threatening me. I m glad that I ve known one organization that helped me with this problem. During the process of the case, worst facts came out about this guy, I ve learned that he has already sent few Filipinas to hospitals for abortion and he is still courting many Filipina au pairs at the same time, and the worst part is he is married and he s using different names and not really his real name. Too bad to know that this kind of person really exists but I m thankful that FOA is there to guide me with all the legalities and rights that I must know and it made me stronger knowing that there s someone to guide me with my case. Soon, I will deliver my child and we have already started the process for the financial support from the father. We are hoping that everything will just go smoothly in our favor. May this story of mine be an eye opener to other au pairs like me. Anonymous Establishing paternity means that the authorities are informed who is the father of a given child. The father is under obligation to pay child support to the child if he does not live together with the child s mother. The child has right of inheritance from the father. CHILD SUPPORT Parents have an obligation to support their children. This obligation applies regardless of whether the parents are married and regardless of who has custody. If the parents do not live together, the parent with whom the child does not live is still required to contribute economically to the child. Amount to be paid If the parents do not reach agreement as to the amount to be paid, this decision may be left to the Regional State Administration who will then decide what amount is to be paid. Rates 2012 Child support consists of three parts: A fixed basic amount, a fixed supplement, and possibly an additional supplement depending on the gross income of the relevant parent and the number of children. Standard maintenance consists of a fixed basic amount and a fixed supplement. The total amount is DKK 1,228 per month - DKK per year. The fixed basic amount is DKK and the fixed supplement is DKK per year. This corresponds to a fixed basic amount of DKK and a fixed supplement of DKK 141 per month. FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 3 of 5

4 Depending on the relevant parent's gross income and the number of children this parent is required to support, a further supplement may be added. This supplement is calculated on the basis of the fixed basic amount. For how long is child support paid? Child support is paid until the child reaches the age of 18. If the child is in the process of training or studying, the maintenance obligation may, however, be prolonged until the child reaches the age of 24. The child support obligation ceases if the parent paying support dies. Supplementary contributions in special cases The Regional State Administration may also decide that the father must pay a contribution towards costs in connection with childbirth - a so-called birth contribution of DKK 746 (2012) and towards supporting the mother for two months prior to and one month following childbirth (DKK per month). A parent may also apply for special contributions from the other parent in connection with baptism and confirmation or on other special occasions. Child support and taxation There is a tax-free allowance corresponding to the basic amount of DKK (2012) for children under 18. There is no tax-free allowance for children over 18. If support is paid for several children, there is of course a corresponding increase in the tax-free allowance. Child support is taxable income for the child who receives child support. The fixed basic amount, however, is exempted from taxation for children under 18. HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY TRIVIA Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death. Jack o Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday. Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings! Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes. Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America. The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human. Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States. Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1. FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 4 of 5

5 Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first. Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees. Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers. ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS CHRISTMAS COME TOGETHER November 17, 2012, 13:00 22:30 by WIM (We are Artist, Istasyon Pinoy and Migrante-DK) Saint Anne s Church Contact Person: Tito Pat FOA AU PAIR GROUP INFORMATION MEETING November 17, 2012, 16:00 19:00 by Au Pair Network Café Cadeau, Frederiksberg Contact Person: Rozvi UNION ORIENTATION November 25, 2012, 13:00 14:00 FOA Main Branch Staunings Plads 1-3, København Contact Person: Jean Address: Staunings Plads 1-3, København Telephone No. : foa.aupairgroup.com Visit us at Facebook and join the group. FOA offers membership to all au pairs who are interested, please contact us or visit us at FOA Main Branch or if au pairs are interested to be part of our newsletter, just send us your message or contributions at our address. FOA AU PAIR YEAR END PARTY 29th of December 2012 (Venue and time to be announced soon) Contact Person: Jean PUBLISHED: FOA Au Pair Group foa.aupairgroup@gmail.com CONTACT NO FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 5 of 5