Melanie Orhant (morhant@igc.org)
Mon, 28 Dec 1998 10:06:44 -0500
Cops say nanny biz needs a nanny
Rules called too lax
By Ian McDougall
Edmonton Sun, Thursday, December 24, 1998
Some form of regulation is needed for nanny importation agencies after a Red
Deer business was hit with over 20 immigration charges, say RCMP.
"I think there should be some checks and balances,'' said RCMP Const. Jim
Efford.
Efford was one of the investigators who laid 26 charges under the
Immigration Act against Red Deer couple Joe and Lydia Federico and their
agency Global Care.
They're accused of bringing Filipina women to Canada after promising them
jobs as nannies.
The jobs allegedly never materialized and police believe the immigrants were
forced to work illegally after arriving to pay Global Care for their
immigration and accommodation expenses.
Police allege Global Care charged an $850 placement fee and $150 a month to
stay in the Federico home.
Several clients and nannies refuted the allegations against the agency
saying Global was helpful, caring and professional.
Right now, aside from the Immigration Act, the business of bringing foreign
nannies to Canada is totally unregulated, Efford said.
"You could be a nanny agency tomorrow,'' he said. "Just call it Ian's Nanny
Agency."
The extent of the problem is unknown, Efford said.
In November, Calgary police laid 42 immigration charges against Luningning
Yue after a similar investigation.
Some form of regulation of nanny agencies would be good to prevent abuses of
the system, said immigration lawyer Shirish Chotalia.
Whenever word gets out about charges against an agency like Global Care
there is the potential for a backlash against foreign live-in nannies, she
said.
"It seems to have negative repercussions for the very women who are trying
to get in,'' she said.
Nannies are brought here under a provision in the Immigration Act, she said,
adding she's worried the federal government will prohibit the practice.
Edmonton's Yellow Pages lists nine nanny agencies in the area, of which five
are billed as international or Philippine.
Mandy Servito works for Philippine-Canada Nannies and doesn't think a
regulatory body is necessary to oversee the industry.
"We are ruled by the immigration law,'' Servito said.
"That is enough.'' The company, running since 1990, had 90 nannies working
in its ranks this year.
Servito said there have been times when jobs the nannies are expecting don't
materialize because of financial problems on the employers' part.
When that happens Servito lets the nannies stay with him free of charge
until he places them with another employer.
Melanie Orhant
Co-Director
Human Trafficking Program
Global Survival Network
P.O. Box 73214
Washington, DC 20009
T: 387-0028
F: 387-2590
Email: morhant@igc.org
www.globalsurvival.net
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