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THE AU PAIR RIGHTS Association of Ireland has welcomed the government’s decision to ratify the Domestic Workers Convention, saying that it’s important that the rights of au pairs are recognised.
Convention (No. 189), which sets down provisions for the protection of domestic workers’ rights, was adopted by the UN’s International Labour Organisation in 2011 and due to come into force from September 2013. The Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton announced the Irish government’s decision to ratify the ILO Convention yesterday.
Commenting on the announcement, Jane Xavier of the Au pair Rights Association of Ireland said that au pair work in Ireland has become synonymous with cheap childcare, leading to exploitation:
There is a perception that au pairs are not real workers, but au pairs are doing real and essential work: they are caring for children and adults, they have schedules and responsibilities, and they need training and qualifications in order to provide safe childcare. However, simply because they are called ‘au pairs’ they are afforded no rights: no holidays, no sick leave, paid a fraction of the minimum wage.”
She added that the ARAI had been contacted by au pairs “who were never paid, required to be on call all night, made to share a bed with babies or children, underfed, overworked, humiliated and even sexually harassed.”
Xavier said the Convention shows that Ireland recognises the importance of work done in private homes.
The Convention, which applies to all domestic workers, defines domestic work as “work Nperformed in or for a household or households”, while a domestic worker is “a person employed to do domestic work”.
Minister Richard Bruton said the decision to ratify the Convention “shows a strong commitment on the part of Ireland to the protection of the rights of domestic workers”.
The National Employment Rights Authority has launched an information booklet for domestic workers in Ireland. The organisation says that regardless of job titles, such as ‘au pair’, or arrangements agreed between domestic workers and their employers, a person working in a home remains an employee under Irish law.
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We have had several Au Pairs. I cannot understand why / how anyone would treat someone in your home looking after your children with disrespect.
I completely agree. You have to treat people as part of your family. We have had two Au Pairs to date. At the end of the day if they are looking after your kids and you are not treating them with disrespect, it stands to reason your kids may not be treated right.
We had a few au pairs too. The stories some of their friends told me about what they were expected to do and how long their working days were was terrifying. People really treated them like dirt. They should be treated as an elder daughter and nothing less.
A job is a job and you should be payed and treated accordingly.
I agree, what’s a fair deduction for room and board though? According to current legislation it’s €54.13 a week.
That was probably realistic in 1975… I’d love to see someone living in Ireland with Sky, Broadband, own room, all food etc. paid for on €250 a month
It is very important that worker rights are protected. The government though have an anti family stance in that the provide little or no support for child care cost and penalise single income families in the the tax code by ignoring the important work of stay at home parents. Perhaps if they put families first we would have less abuse in the Aupair sector.
I don’t think the very generous rates of child benefit, even after the recent cuts, show an “anti family” stance
Having children is a choice (In most cases). Having a parent staying at home instead of working is a choice, and I don’t see why it needs to be ‘recognised’.
Lol… That’s the solution alright, let’s all just stop having children.. Can’t see a flaw in that plan at all
Thats bullshit absolutely bullshit . What about the au pair that leave you without any notice because most of them come here looking for job ? And then you dont know who to leave the kids with ? Nobody treat them badly since they have to stay with your kids and I have to say these girl often claim they have experience with kids but they dont have a clue on what they are doing
And I trust they have none of these rights if they are illegal ?
So you’re accepting that they are workers and should have the rights as well as the responsibility?
Au Pairs don’t legally exist in Ireland, and many people are using the title Au Pair as a means of employing a domestic worker for €100 a week or month. Probably the kind of people who’ll come out and attack efforts to prevent exploitation.
Finally just because someone did a bad job it doesn’t give you the right to exploit or mistreat them.
I’ve had really positive experiences with the two Spanish au pairs I have had to date. It’s been a symbiotic relationship for both of us, sharing cultures, teaching English and minding and having fun with my daughter. It’s lovely to see their relationship develop and they both grew quite attached to each other. Au pairs become part of the family and it’s important to help them them feel it is their home too. They receive more than just their pocket money, which I know varies but current recommendations are €150, they also have their own room and meals and no overheads. If they were to pay for their own accommodation, food, commute to work and utilities I’m doubtful that they would have €150 left each week. It makes it mush easier for them to travel to a new country as they come directly to a family. I agree that minimum wage is fair in the case of a live out au pair. I am also very aware that there has been a lot of exploitation, which I think is appalling. I feel that there should be more regulation and rights for both live in / out au pairs and punitive measures for families who breach
I don’t know what the au pair organisation is so happy about. If you ask me about this spells the end of the au pair culture in Ireland. Who can afford to pay somebody 35 x €9.35 per week out of their net wages? Under the current legislation if you offer an employee lodgings and board you’re entitled to deduct €54.13 a week. This is laughable!
Yes another example of how dreadfully out of touch government ministers are in their ivory towers when only three European countries have decided to ratify this agreement.
Yes exploitation occurs and it should never be tolerated but for the decent families who have a good relationship with their au pairs this is a hammer blow. If they wish to maintain the open air culture then the amount deductible for board and lodging must be revisited €7.70 per day is simply ridiculous.
In the meantime, no more au pairs for us, we can’t afford it.
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