Can anyone help me with au pair query?

[jampots]

My friend has an Romanian au pair who lives with her but doesnt really "do anything" anymore other than some housework and occasional babysitting. She is apparently excellent at housework and as my friend and I have recently started a residential and commercial cleaning business we would like to utilise her. However not sure where we would stand with her already being assigned to someone. Can anyone tell me? Would we be breaking the law if we used her on a self employed basis?

An au pair is exactly that some housework and occasional babysitting. They are not nannies, housekeepers or full time cleaners. In exchange they usually get a megre allowance and time for language studies.

I don't know if they would be allowed to do other paid work or if this would be in breach of visas or contracts. If hired through an agancy they may want to place her with another family if they found out.

Many people over use and under pay aupairs, who are often too young and inexperienced to know how much they should and should not do.