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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

can you employ an au-pair and pay less?

28 replies

skuzy · 21/10/2007 07:16

I'm thinking of employing an AP but only need her to work about 15 hours per week. I would therefore like to pay less money, say £35 pound per week. Does anyone know if it's ok to pay less that the standard £55 per week?
Also, do you pay extra for the two nights babysitting? Or is that included in the main deal.
Thanks!

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NannyL · 21/10/2007 08:36

ok.... if you were a person wanting to come to this country to improve your english, and choose to live with a family in exchange for doing a few hours 'work' and time off to attned language school etc could you live on £35 per week?

I think it would be very unfair on the au pair actually.... even if they agreed to it they may niavly assume they could live on it.... then find that the friends they make at college are doing things and they cant becuase they havnt got enough money.

IMO that is a pretty unfair position to put a young student in!.... they will also soon find out they are earning far less than all of their new friends and will probably want a job that pays more.

Thats just my opinion, but i honestly think it would be putting the au pair in a very awkward position and tbh i dont think thats fair at all

ScaryScienceT · 21/10/2007 08:17

The job you describe is a demipair.

LadyMuck · 21/10/2007 07:56

If you can get someone to take it on on that basis then it is not a problem (it is not covered by minimum wage regs), but you need to think whether it is feasible for someone to live on that. Are you expecting them to take on another job? In any event you will still be cooking for them and providing board and lodging so don't forget that there is a cost there.

Depending on where they are coming from they may not be allowed to legally take a job so you have to consider the ethical side as well.