Au Pairs: Welcome in Ireland?

  Au Pairs: Welcome in Ireland? INAPA Industry Report Julie Kelly, Caroline Joyce     Irish National Au Pair Association Table of Contents Ack...
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Au Pairs: Welcome in Ireland? INAPA Industry Report Julie Kelly, Caroline Joyce

 

  Irish National Au Pair Association

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments  ...................................................................................  3   Summary  ....................................................................................................  3   Methodology  .............................................................................................  4   Background and Context  ........................................................................  4   Findings  .....................................................................................................  7   Earnings and Home Environment  .......................................................................................................................  8   The Overall Experience of Au Pairs in Ireland  ...................................................................................................  9   Online Placements  ..............................................................................................................................................  11  

Consequences of Categorising Au Pairs as Domestic Workers  ...  12   Bibliography  ............................................................................................  18    

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Acknowledgments First and foremost, my sincerest thanks to the women who participated in this study for taking the time to respond in relation to their experiences as au pairs in Ireland. Thank you to INAPA members for your assistance throughout the research process. And finally, many thanks to Laura Barrett of Au Pair Study Agency for your instrumental role in conducting surveys and interviews and your valuable insight. Julie Kelly, Chair, Caroline Joyce, Vice Chair 2015

Summary INAPA was established in 2010 with the aim of establishing regulation within the au pair industry in order to safeguard both families and au pairs living in Ireland. Au pairs have been immigrating to Ireland for decades. Traditionally, young women travelled from European countries to learn English and experience a new culture. They would stay with a host family and were generally treated as a “family member” in a safe and friendly environment. The Irish Au Pairing Industry has experienced consistent growth in recent years, as Ireland is becoming the most popular English-speaking destination for au pairs in Europe. However INAPA are concerned about the lack of governmental recognition of the au pair programme and thus the absence of legal regulation within the industry. This report combines industry research as well as detailed accounts from au pairs in Ireland regarding their experiences working with their respective families throughout the past year in order to demonstrate the value of the programme to the families offering employment as well as the au pairs who offer their services.

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Methodology The research presented in this report begins with a broadly focused literature review investigating and comparing the regulatory standards in place for au pair industries within the EU as well as abroad. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, the research team aggregated information that would provide insight into the quality of experience for au pairs in Ireland. Collection of reliable quantitative data was accomplished through surveys. The questionnaires were distributed among a randomly selected sample of 65 au pairs currently living with families in Ireland. The sample was divided into strata based on the agency or online platform by which the au pair had been placed. Stratifying the sample this way ensures that the data can reliably reflect a representative variety of various placement scenarios. Survey data was collected over a five-month period from November 2014 to March 2015. The research team also conducted five in depth interviews in order to collect qualitative data. Researchers and au pairs who had been placed through various agencies engaged in conversations that spanned many aspects of the au pair experience including language classes, host families, Irish culture, and placement via online platforms. These interviews were aimed at gaining understanding of the au pairs’ underlying attitudes, values, and experiences in order to reveal which aspects of the programme are most valuable to participants and to gain insight on what makes an au pair program unique and enjoyable for the participants. Two INAPA members were responsible for conducting the research discussed above, including the au pair interviews. All INAPA members participated in surveys and further consultation with INAPA members was carried out to discuss recommendations and findings. Consultations with the MRCI and NERA throughout 2011 and 2012 were also instrumental in the research process.

Background and Context INAPA members have reported receiving calls from families who are very confused and have often sourced Au Pairs online and then realise there may be legal consequences. Many families do not realise that their Au Pairs from non-EU countries have restrictions on the hours they are allowed to help in the family as they are supposed to be attending their language school or college under student visa systems. Members also report that they have families contacting them looking for excessive hours who then go online and source au pairs directly. There are also non-vetted au pairs that pose risk to the families they are placed with.1 INAPA has contacted various Government Departments and has experienced conflict in defining the programme.

                                                                                                                1  http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-say-au-pair-targeted-parents-of-children-she-was-babysitting-29488189.html  

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  Irish National Au Pair Association Figure 1: An Online Ad for Live-Out Au Pair

In almost every country in Europe, Au Pairs are recognised as a cultural exchange. For example the UK government clearly defines rules for au pairing.2 Defining what is meant by the term ‘Au Pair’ is a problematic endeavour. In Ireland, there is no established definition or legal framework governing the au pairing industry, which therefore operates without regulation. Furthermore Ireland has not signed international treaties that provide a framework for pay, duties and conditions. 3 A number of media reports have highlighted the abuse some au pairs have encountered in Ireland. Despite more than five years of lobbying from INAPA, the Irish government recently confirmed it has ‘‘no plans to introduce additional legislation specifically to regulate arrangements in relation to au pairs in Ireland.”4 Departments have explicitly avoided defining the Au pair programme, leaving it open to individual interpretation and a high degree of uncertainty. The lack of clarity in defining the roles of au pairs and standards regarding pairs in Ireland causes confusion for all involved in the industry including international partners, au pairs, over 5,000 host families and au pair agencies. This absence of standardisation in Ireland has a number of negative consequences for the industry. Firstly, host families advertise for ‘live out au pairs’ rather than providing the important experience of family and cultural integration. Au pairs travelling from non EU countries often do not understand the visa requirements as they are led to believe that the programme is a ‘loop hole’ allowing them to avoid restrictive work visas. Finally, online platforms, which neither vet au                                                                                                                 2  https://www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs   3 4

European Agreement on Au Pair Placement, Council of Europe Treaty Series No. 068 http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2011-11-15.1391.0&s=au+pair#g1392.0.q

 

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  Irish National Au Pair Association pair applicants nor the host families thus enabling hosts to ignore their obligations to provide a cultural education for the au pair, are often regarded as legitimate placement services and therefore reduce the amount of individuals using authentic, responsible au par agencies for placements. In the vast majority of European countries—including Ireland until January 2014, it is understood that au pairs fall outside of the Domestic Workers category, thus entitling the au pair programme to its own unique definition and sets of regulations. However, given the conflict between departments, the absence of a clear definition for the au pair programme in Ireland creates an environment in which the industry can no longer operate within the proposed boundaries. The government’s ambition to protect the rights of au pairs is indeed commendable but misguided without the understanding that recent media coverage and research published thus far has resulted in a misrepresentation of the industry as a whole. There is no question that our priority is to safeguard the rights of au pairs and host families. However, changing the entire landscape of the industry based on studies such as the MRCI’s 2012 publication “Part of the Family? — The experiences of Au pairs in Ireland” is imprudent given the limited scope of results. The aforementioned example exclusively considered data that had been collected from a sample of individuals who were placed with a host family using online platforms. The findings thus neglect consideration of the experiences of au pairs who have used responsible and dedicated agencies for placement. The present study includes survey data from respondents using both online platforms and legitimate agencies for placement. Furthermore, prior research has included primarily respondents from non-EU countries. The findings in the following report, however, demonstrate that there are significant differences in methods of placement as well as overall satisfaction for au pairs from within the EU versus from countries outside of the EU. It is not possible to make fully informed policy decisions with information exclusively from studies that fail to detail the more legitimate approaches to facilitating a culturally enriching au pair experience and thus cannot be generalised to the entire population of au pairs in Ireland. The research presented in the rest of this report provides a more balanced view of the Ireland au pair experience. It is essential Ireland continue to promote the cultural exchange programmes and maintain its position as the number one English-speaking destination for au pairs.5

                                                                                                                5

http://www.7clingo.com/top-english-speaking-travel-destinations-for-2015/

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Findings This section provides an overview of the data gathered from the surveys and interviews with the 65 au pairs. A number of themes and trends emerged through the analysis of the data including pay and conditions, treatment and experience, online v’s legitimate agency placements, au pair agencies, and cultural and educational experiences Discussions with the au pairs along with 40 years combined experience of INAPA members within the industry offered a valuable opportunity to understand the range of factors that shape the experiences of au pairs living in Ireland. This information is presented in a series of charts below. The majority of the Nationalities are EU members. The reason behind this is that our member’s placement agencies largely place EU nationals or Au Pairs on working holiday visa. Our members do not place student visa students from outside of EU.

Breakdown of Nationality 56%  

16%   5%  

2%  

3%  

6%  

2%  

8%  

3%  

Breakdown of Age 61%  

33%  

18  -­‐  20  

21  -­‐  25  

3%  

3%  

26  -­‐  29  

30+  

Age  

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Earnings and Home Environment Overall, au pairs tended to express satisfaction with both the amount of money they were earning and their living conditions, reporting that in both conditions the reality aptly met their expectations. Forty-three per cent were working 30-35 hours and earning at least 100 euros per week, which falls within INAPA recommendations.

Survey data indicates that, on average, the au pairs are responsible for the care of two children and only 28% reported caring for three or more children. Ninety-seven per cent of au pairs reported that they were free to leave the house when their duties were completed and 88% reported having enough free time for English lessons or other classes. In terms of integration into the host family, 75% of the survey respondents indicated they were included in all family activities and 98% were given their own private bedroom. Overall, 95% of au pairs said they were enjoying their experience and felt embraced by their host families.

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

“It's a great opportunity to do cultural exchange and to learn about the country Ireland ant it's traditions landscapes and people. While staying with a native family you got a very good view in the routines and the Irish way of life with it's habits. As a usual tourist you won't be able to experience that.”

“It is such a great experience and both sides take advantages. The time in Ireland was great for me - for my English and for my independence. I learned so much. The family was so nice and the children so cute. I could see so much of Ireland and learn something about the culture of Ireland. I think au-pairs are also a great help for the families. I know that I supported my host mum a lot and I was a friend for the children. I miss them so much!”

“Au pair is an excellent opportunity for young people to live in another country for long enough to get to know the language and culture. Especially for people like me, where the parents could not afford to send me abroad for one year to gain some life experience and knowledge of the English language, being an au pair was absolutely great. During the time with my host family I learned about every day life and English and with the money I earned, I could go to language school and visit other cities in Ireland as well as other countries, and I did not have to ask my parents for money. Thinking back my time in Ireland it was an irreplaceable experience and I am very happy I took my chance and went there.”          

The Overall Experience of Au Pairs in Ireland An overwhelming 97% of the au pairs that responded to the survey reported that they would recommend the au pair experience in Ireland to their friends. A total of 95% said they learned about Irish culture, 82% participated in cultural visits and 89% took the opportunity to travel around Ireland. Almost half of the au pairs surveyed had friends and family visit during their stay. Some host families contributed to gym membership, flights, phone credit, vouchers and gave their au pairs access to their cars. The following quotes from the au pairs interviewed illustrate the positive nature of their experiences living in Ireland:

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

“To me the stay in Ireland was the most exciting trip I did my still young age! I learned a lot about different cultures (not just the Irish culture) and got to know so many different people. I learned a lot more about the language, too. I met people who I will hopefully stay in contact with for a long time and I got to know the girl I minded, who I adore! I learned about what it means to travel (which now is a big part of my life) and how to live a life away from home. I learned about many different ways you can live a life, through all the different people I met and I learned a little more about how I might want to live mine. I think it would be very sad if other girls wouldn’t even be given the opportunity to have those sorts of experiences in a breath-taking country like Ireland.”

“Because the Aupair programme is a great chance for everyone who is not sure about what to do. You learn a lot about yourself, what you can do, what you can't. And of course it is just the perfect way if you want to get in touch with another country (like Ireland), you're in the middle of the culture, meet people, get to know their lives and views in life. I'm so happy that I had the chance to go to Ireland, work with those lovely children and learn to live MY life. And I wish everyone could get that chance!”

“Making so many new friends from all around the word! Living with a family that I love and that included me in everything they did and whom I still have contact to and visit. And learning about new cultures and seeing different ways of life styles apart from the one I knew from home.”

Au pairs described their experience as ‘life changing’ and spoke highly of the warmth and hospitality of the Irish people describing them as ‘just fabulous and friendly’ and ‘I lost my heart to that country’. The au pairs spoke of the strong friendships they built with their host families and how the experience gave them an insight into Irish culture and family life. This was reinforced by the fact that 72% of Irish host families welcomed the family and friends of their au pairs into their homes, offering accommodation during their stay.

“I've learned a lot about children, education and how to manage a household. And I've learned a lot about myself! It's a very important time for young people leaving school and exploring the world and exploring themselves better. Last but not least, my time in Ireland was the best time of my life!”

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Online Placements A clear finding from the research is that when there is no reputable agency involved in securing a placement for an au pair, particularly where non EU placements are concerned, both au pairs and host families interpreted the programme with different expectations.

Q. If you were recruited through an agency did you feel you had support if you needed it? “Yes, of course. It is good to have someone in Ireland who are able to help you with settling down and get use to the new situation. My agency introduced me to other Au Pairs in my area and organise different excursion in the Irish culture and country”

“We got help to get in touch with other Au Pairs, finding a school and there were organised day trips. During the year I haven’t felt like I needed support”

“Yes. I had always a person to write for questions. I never had an emergency, but I'm very sure if I had, that there was someone I could talk to.”

All INAPA agencies are requested to provide a full list of au pairs who are living in Ireland to newly placed au pairs so that they can get in contact with other students during their stay. Agencies are also encouraged to provide a full social programme for au pairs.  

“I definitively did! We had a very good support! Meetings every now and then.”

“Yes, I could contact them every time”

INAPA agencies must provide au pairs with an emergency phone number.

“Yes, I was well supported and well prepared for my Au Pair life”. “Yeah, but I didn't need very much the agency. I was comfortable with my family”

         

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  Irish National Au Pair Association     When asked about the risks of online placements 60% surveyed said they felt online placements were too dangerous. The following quotes demonstrate the types of worries expressed by the au pairs that were interviewed:

Not enough support in the country you're going to. If you want to leave the family, change, or just have any kind of problems, you might be on your own! “The risks were to find a family that wasn't one for example. Or to not be payed. Or to be like a slave for them.” “You can meet the family and not actually like them, they can make you do tasks they didn't say anything about on the website, plus you can't go anywhere for support.” “Not being sure the people online are who they say they are, having no help if needed, no verification of details” “If the references of the family are real because there is no agency who check them - I'd be afraid I had no one to go to if any problems with the host family accrues”

     

Consequences of Categorising Au Pairs as Domestic Workers   •

Any move to reclassify au pairs as domestic workers would mean an end to the au pair programme. Our partner agencies in Europe have insisted they will not continue a partnership in Ireland if au pairs are categorised as domestic workers or employees.



Host families may not chose to take on an au pair but instead will hire a babysitter who has more qualifications and are native English speakers. Parents will not go to the trouble of hosting an au pair in favour of other household expenses, for example, hiring an accountant for filing tax returns.



Au pairs will chose the UK as a preferred English-speaking destination where the programme is recognised and supervised.



Legitimate and reputable agencies, such as INAPA members, will close down.



Au pairs may still travel to Ireland and families could still host them, which would create a ‘black market’ of au pairs in Ireland.

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  Irish National Au Pair Association



Probable economic loss: of the 10,000 estimated au pairs who come to Ireland every year, the majority have family members and friends to visit during their stay. These family members stay in hotels or hostels so that they can visit Ireland. The au pairs invest in cultural experiences whilst attending English classes in a range of different schools across the country. The elimination of the au pair programme could have a serious affect on operating potentials.

When asked if they would be affected by the decision to end the au pairing programme in Ireland, 94% of respondents indicated that they would be ‘sad’ if it were no longer an option. The interviewed au pairs had the following statements about their overall experiences in the programme:

“To me the stay in Ireland was the most exciting trip I did my still young age! I learned a lot about different cultures (not just the Irish culture) and got to know so many different people. I learned a lot more about the language, too. I met people who I will hopefully stay in contact with for a long time and I got to know the girl I minded, who I adore! I learned about what it means to travel (which now is a big part of my life) and how to live a life away from home. I learned about many different ways you can live a life, through all the different people I met and I learned a little more about how I might want to live mine. I think it would be very sad if other girls wouldn’t even be given the opportunity to have those sorts of experiences in a breath-taking country like Ireland.” “It is a really good experience to get in touch with the real Irish culture and not just the tourist attractions. It also your own development in your personality and language knowledge” “Because even not everything is perfect for me, it’s still a great opportunity and it would be sad, if other girls don’t get a change to dry their luck with Ireland. Also I have the feeling, that the families really need their Au pair. If both parents work which other opportunities do they really have, if they don’t wish, that their children are away the whole day? The Irish people seem to me to be a very friendly and open nation that loves to show other people their country. I think, if the government regulate the Au pair thing in Ireland, the aggrieved party would not be the Au pairs. There are many other countries, where we are welcome, but the aggrieves party will be the host family, the own citizens of Ireland, from whom a great possibility gets taken away. And at last, the Au pairs and the host families are adults. No one force anyone in this relationship.” “Because the au pair programme is a great chance for everyone who is not sure about what to do. You learn a lot about yourself, what you can do, what you can't. And of course it is just the perfect way if you want to get in touch with another country (like Ireland), you're in the middle of the culture, meet people, get to know their lives and views in life. I'm so happy that I had the chance to go to Ireland, work with those lovely children and learn to live MY life. And I wish everyone could get that chance”

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

“Being an au pair is a really great experience and wonderful opportunity for young people to get to know a culture and a language. It helps to become more independent, to develop one’s personality and to experience new things. It gives people the chance to go abroad without much difficulty and to bring in one’s skills. It would be very sad if that wouldn’t be possible anymore, both for the au pairs as well as the host families.” “It is such a great experience and both sides take advantages. The time in Ireland was great for me - for my English and for my independence. I learned so much. The family was so nice and the children so cute. I could see so much of Ireland and learn something about the culture of Ireland. I think au pairs are also a great help for the families. I know that I supported my host mum a lot and I was a friend for the children. I miss them so much!” “Ireland is a wonderful country with wonderful friendly and helpful people. I would be sad if it wouldn't be possible for others to get the Chance to get the same experiences of living and working there. I think being an au pair is one of the best chances to see a new country learn about other cultures and to learn or improve a language. Also you are living with together with a family and you'll have the Chance to learn so much for your life!!” “Au pair is an excellent opportunity for young people to live in another country for long enough to get to know the language and culture. Especially for people like me, where the parents could not afford to send me abroad for one year to gain some life experience and knowledge of the English language, being an au pair was absolutely great. During the time with my host family I learned about every day life and English and with the money I earned, I could go to language school and visit other cities in Ireland as well as other countries, and I did not have to ask my parents for money. Thinking back my time in Ireland it was an irreplaceable experience and I am very happy I took my chance and went there.” “I am learning English through talking to the family, earning money with minding kids, that gives me the possibility to pay for my English school and travel around (I have done every tour you could possibly think of, mostly twice or already more). I even extended my year to two year and now I am my third year in Ireland studying at DBS and working as child-minder to finance college and living. Au pairing was one of my best experiences. It can be tough sometimes to be in a different family/country, you can feel lonely, you can miss home, you can be angry at or disappointed in your HF sometimes but all together I wouldn’t change this experience. I feel like I am little part of the kids family and they are a big part of my family.”

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Limitations & Future Research The situation of au pairs and host families in Ireland demands urgent attention. Au pairs are becoming an increasingly popular form of childcare and other forms of household assistance. While the media are positioning au pairs as a vulnerable group, the safety of host families and their children is often neglected or ignored. With the absence of reputable agencies to establish acceptable vetting and screening, families are also at risk The research presented in this report provides a glimpse into the au pair experience in Ireland, however much research is still needed to understand the host family experience. The second phase of this study is to survey host families using both online platforms and legitimate agencies in Ireland to source their au pair. Beginning at the end of the Summer 2015, reserchers will collect survey data from over 150 host families within Ireland.

Conclusions Throughout our research the results confirmed that au pairs arriving from the EU through a recognised agency had enriching cultural experiences. This is in stark contrast to au pairs from non-EU countries or au pairs who have used online platforms rather than a reputable agency for placement, in which cases experiences of exploitation, neglect and precariousness have been reported.6 Reputable agencies, on the other hand, provide clear assistance for au pairs and host families. They provide information on rights and address each and every problem experienced. This includes assistance with social programmes including English classes, social networking and orientation meetings and consultations, which ensure that au pairs and families understand that the au pair programme is first and foremost a cultural programme meant to benefit the au pair as much as the family and that au pairs are not a replacement for crèche or qualified childcare. The threat posed to the health and safety of au pairs recruited online is a serious concern that demands action to prevent further abuse. Failure to regulate and provide protections for au pairs will only lead to increased exploitation In conclusion, the au pair programme, when adhering to a strict set of guidelines, is an overall successful cultural exchange programme. The benefits are not only to host families but also to the economy as recognised by the department of tourism:

“From a tourism perspective, the benefits of the au pair programme as highlighted by you are recognised - in particular the potential of an au pair’s family members and friends to visit Ireland when the individual is based here” 7

                                                                                                                6 7

http://www.mrci.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PartofTheFamily.pdf Leo Varadkar, T.D. Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 06/12/2013

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

The 2012 MRCI report collected data through a survey distributed to a sample of au pairs, 42% of which were from outside of the EU. Thirty-eight per cent of the respondents held Student Visas, which carry strict conditions including work restrictions limiting individuals to twenty hours per week during school terms. However, only 9% of the au pairs who reported having Student Visas were adhering to these hours while the remaining 91% were working between 4060 hours in the home per week. Data from both the MRCI study and the present INAPA study demonstrated a clear distinction between recruitment methods for au pairs from EU versus those from outside the EU. Few reputable au pair agencies will work with au pairs who come from outside of Europe, as the Visa complications and the financial motivation for these individuals are most often inappropriate for participation in cultural-focused programme.

“Motivation for becoming an au pair differed between EU au pairs and those from outside the EU. EU au pairs in this study who came from France, Germany and Spain came to Ireland with the intended purpose of au pairing. Their motivation was not financial and fits more into the traditional understanding of the au pair concept. They tended to have a better experience than their non-EU counterparts. On the other hand, au pairs from outside the EU generally arrived in Ireland with the intention of studying full-time. The lack of available job opportunities forced them into au pairing as a means to support their studies and stay in Ireland. The decision was almost always financially motivated” 8

Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no third party regulating the programme in Ireland in order to ensure agencies, au pairs and host families are adhering to the proper guidelines and standards as adopted by the country’s European counterparts. It is clear from the findings reported in the MRCI study that there are even some agencies established in Ireland that fail to follow the basic guidelines within the au pair industry. A significant majority of au pairs that came from the EU reported using an agency to source, screen and vet their host families. These individuals rated their overall experience as excellent to exceptional. These statistics are further corroborated by the MRCI findings that “Most EU au pairs applied for their position before leaving their home country and paid a fee to an agency offering the service (62%). In most situations, the conditions and placement were reasonable.”9 Without a third party involved to check or monitor the placement or vet and screen the families and au pairs, the au pair is left without support and host families with misguided expectations.

                                                                                                                8 9

http://www.mrci.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PartofTheFamily.pdf Ibid.

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Recommendations The recommendations presented below are based on international best practices in countries where governments have regulated au pairing programmes to establish industry standards and provide protections for au pairs.

1. Define the au pair programme as “a private, voluntary matter between the parties concerned on the basis of a shared understanding. Therefore, such persons are not regarded as employees but are received by a family and treated as a family member in exchange for certain services, such as a limited amount of light housework or baby sitting. This activity is regarded as primarily cultural rather than economic. It is regarded as a short-term cultural programme with linguistic or study opportunities.” 2. Publish a set of guidelines on hours, duties and scope of what an au pair can and cannot do to enable host-families to obey these guidelines. 3. If an Au Pair Immigration Scheme for non-EU and EEA au pairs will not be established in Ireland then au pairs from Non EU and EEA countries should not be permitted to joining the programme. 4. Insist that all au pair arrangements are completed though a recognised agency in Ireland. These agencies would be charged with ensuring their host-families and au pairs comply with the guidelines and regulations. 5. Any arrangement not done through a recognised agency should not be regarded as an au pair placement but as an employer/employee relationship, thus giving the employee some statutory protection through NERA 6. Give overall responsibility for the regulation of the au pair industry to one government department (e.g. Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport or the Department of Children and Youth Affairs). 7. Establish a system of data collection for the industry including a system of registration for au pairs and host families in Ireland through INAPA. 8. Support and facilitate au pairs to access labour complaints mechanisms and employment legislation in situations where regulations are breached. 9. Impose strict sanction on host families who have breached au pair regulations from accessing further au pairs.

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Bibliography 7cLingo. (2015) Top English-speaking travel destinations for 2015. Available at: http://www.7clingo.com/topenglish-speaking-travel-destinations-for-2015/ [Accessed 23 January 2015]. Council of Europe. (1969) European Agreement on Au Pair Placement, Council of Europe Treaty Series No. 068. Available at: conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/Treaties/Word/068.doc [Accessed 9 March 2015]. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (2011) Employment Rights. Available at: https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2011-11-15.1391.0&s=au+pair#g1392.0.q [Accessed 19 February 2015]. Gov.UK. (2015) Au pairs, nannies and other people working in your home. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/aupairs-employment-law/au-pairs [Accessed 7 February 2015]. Harkin, G. (2013) Gardai say au pair targeted parents of children she was babysitting. Available at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-say-au-pair-targeted-parents-of-children-she-was-babysitting29488189.html [4 March 2015]. MRCI. (2012) Part of the Family? The Experineces of Au Pairs in Ireland. Available at: http://www.mrci.ie/wpcontent/uploads/2012/10/PartofTheFamily.pdf [Accessed 2 January 2015].

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  Irish National Au Pair Association

Irish National Au Pair Association   Leinster: 01 284 4675 Connaught: (0) 94 904 8375  

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