To ask if you realise au-pairs are seriously under threat after Brexit?

[Dontblameitontheboogie]

On another thread discussing a potential au-pair who would be starting this summer, I was struck that not a single poster pointed out that it’s far from certain au-pairs will be able to arrive or even stay after 29 March!?!

I thought this deserved its own thread, and in AIBU rather than the “Brexit” echo chamber. People may not even realise they could be affected.

Even in a “Deal” scenario, au-pair status isn’t guaranteed, as far as I know. They won’t qualify for pre-settled status, as they’re here temporarily and won’t be able to provide proof of ordinary residence. So technically they could be here illegally from 29 March. Access to health care would be a worry, as would re-entering the UK after trips home - or getting here in the first place.

The current au pair scheme is an EU-wide arrangement, that allows young EU nationals to temporarily live in another EU country without exercising Treaty rights. Some countries, like France or Germany extend the scheme to au-pairs from outside the EU too, but the U.K. doesn’t.

In case of a no deal Brexit, the Immigration Bill that was passed last Monday means that EU citizens wishing to come here must have a job offer worth at least £30,000k. Some exceptions I believe, such as nurses and doctors, but I haven’t seen any mention of au pairs anywhere.

Check out www.saveaupairs.uk for more info.

I think a lot of people don't have any idea about au pairs

I've never used one. My sister in law was one. She saw a new country she would never have been able to experience otherwise, and learnt a language while staying in an amazing house with a pool and experiencing a different way of life. Gained qualifications. And became part of that family. While helping with the kids. That's what it's all supposed to be about.

I don't know why everyone is being so sneery about them.

They are cheaper and more flexible than a childminder.

Yes they are a luxury in the sense that you need a spare room as they live with you. However that doesn't always mean someone is rich! What if you have a fee kids and one moves out? What if your kids are fine sharing a room instead of having one each? What if you can afford to rent somewhere slightly bigger because it 's further away from work as you don't need to rush back to do pick up and drop off? What if you're so short of cash it actually makes more sense to sleep on the sofa for a while and give the au pair your bedroom rather than shell out on a childminder? What if you live rurally and have loads of space because land and housing is relatively cheap but there are no childminders available?

Why would a British person want to do that for another British person? The whole point is you study a language and be part of the family so only do a couple of hours formal childcare a day.

And yes there were a pairs before we became part of the EU. But this is yet another thing that EU regulations covered that the UK will need to adopt new regulations and processes for, and that will take time, and I'm sure it won't be at the top of the pile if things to sort so there will no doubt be a big delay before its sorted

TalkinPeece, exactly

A luxury is something you can easily do without. Without affordable, flexible childcare, I could not work. I would lose my home and not be able to provide for my DCs. My childcare is a necessity. I am fortunate in that I have a room for my au pair to live in. That doesn’t make her a luxury. Clear now?

Maybe pay a local girl or lad instead, like people used to. Just a thought OP.

First world fucking problems, ehy?

"My Au Pair won't get her visa renewed." Listen to yourselves. Oh. woe. is. me.

Where did au pairs used to come from all of 10 or so years ago? Because that's when working rights etc dropped and Eastern euro countries joined... I'm pretty sure European au pairs from all over worked here.. Same with field pcikers

Oh no! No au pairs! Where will I find such cheap slave labour from now?

So Brexit really is about dragging everyone down to the lowest possible level? People should appreciate that their spare room and au pair are luxuries, so they shouldn’t complain when they’re taken away? Some people can’t feed their own families, so everyone should just accept that when they can’t feed their family either?

I remember when Britain used to believe things could get better.

People still have the option to pay the going rate for proper childcare like everybody else does, Chariots.

I’ve read this entire thread and I’m still not convinced that it wouldn’t be better for everyone to accept they had to do so.

I’m not comfortable with the idea of getting rich(er) off of paying your staff as little as you can possibly get away with. And let’s be honest- this is what the au pair system is about.

I don’t see any complaints from any posters above that they’ll be losing the mutually beneficial cultural exchange. Just the cheap, live-in labour.

I don’t see any complaints from any posters above that they’ll be losing the mutually beneficial cultural exchange.
There were a lot of posts from people who au-paired in their youth and regretted that the same opportunity won't be available for their children. Does this count?
I would definitely consider an au-pair speaking a romance language next year, without household or childcare duties, just to create a language environment.

I also think there's quite a sifnifi can't difference between 'I have an au pair because I couldn't afford to work and feed my kids and pay the rent otherwise' and the 'I have an au pair because otherwise I couldn't afford to work, feed my kids and still pay for swimming/horse riding/holidays/put away savings etc'
So while you may not consider an au pair a luxury, the other things you can afford to do because you save on childcare are.
I'm not saying that applies to everyone on this thread. But it certainly will apply to some.

*significant

I was an au pair before we became part of the EU, I had to get a work permit. No problem there. So if future au pairs have to get a work permit so be it.

Why do people see problems all the time. Speculation is rife and pointless.

Wait and see!

Ooh tell us how working class young people can get the chance to work in Europe soon, or is another thing brexiteers don’t give a shit about alongside Ireland, the economy, security?

You’re getting your sovereignty back people. Who wants to work anyway?

"Local girls" are often more expensive, and a lot less reliable. And if you work nights, you still need to free up somewhere for the "Local girl" to sleep.

I agree, au pairs are often unaffordable, but the only option for single shift working parents, so they scrimp.

AmIRightOrAMeringue - because the cultural exchange bit has basically gone out the window. 50 hour weeks with a baby and a toddler ie a nanny’s role are 95% of the advertisements on the Facebook pages

And given the hours are usually 7-6 it’s nit for the flexibility either

Good to see this thread has continued being a race to the bottom. What an atrocious attitude so many have.

HO are always incorrectly telling people who actually have the right to be in the UK to leave, including at least two British citizens that I'm aware of, so I think that optimism is somewhat misplaced. This is what happens when you outsource things to Capita.

I'm not being optimistic. I'm just thinking that in the chaos of a no deal Brexit, if they can't organise visas for current au pairs they are unlikely to just tell them to leave as this will cause further chaos. Unlike many people on here I know quite a few au pairs and they are far from a luxury given that many doctors and probably other essential services would not be able to work without them.

Not sure if that was to me katherina, but I didn't ask if our 2.5 bedroom home is a luxury. I wanted to know if people think choosing a childminder, which would be the dearer option for my family, is less luxurious than an au pair would be despite costing more.

But that's the point, March. We can't really have the conversation without you accepting that you have a spare (box) room - which is a luxury - and therefore have the wherewithal to host an au pair. Clearly this is not an option for people who don't have the space.

I am not damning you for having a spare room or an au pair - but you must see that it is a luxury.

I can see though that there are a lot of people onthread who are very upset at being thought of as having luxuries. I'm not sure why.

I like your assumption that I’m concerned about the loss of cheap live in labour saucy. I don’t have an au pair. I have however been an au pair, and it’s a good opportunity that I’d like my kids to also have. You not understanding the purpose of something isn’t it a good reason to take it away from everyone.

So fuxking what if it’s a luxury anyway? Is that what Brexit it is? The removal of all luxuries?

I can see though that there are a lot of people onthread who are very upset at being thought of as having luxuries. I'm not sure why

It's so strange isn't it? I consider the fact my son attends a particular nursery a luxury. I'm not defensive about that!

Nothing, Chariots! It doesn't matter whether or not it's a luxury! What amazes me (and is worrying) is that so many people on MN can't see that it is. That's all.

I think many people are confused as to what a luxury really is. There are 2 definitions. One is 'a condition of abundance, or great ease and comfort', and the other 'something adding to pleasure or comfort, but not absolutely necessary'

For the record, I don't think having a spare room, or a holiday or an au pair contributes to a condition of abundance. But they're not absolutely necessary either. You could exist without them. We could exist without our car, but life would be more difficult. We could exist without a bottle of wine on a Friday evening, but it makes life a little nicer. So those things, in my mind, are luxuries.

A home, food, heating/electricity/water and clothes are not luxuries. Live-in childcare, in most cases, is.

Threads like this just confirm that I can't fucking wait for Brexit!