An au pair, generally a young, unmarried person of foreign nationality,
lives with a host family and is in charge of childcare and sometimes light housework
in the household. Au pairs carry out their duties in exchange for housing, a
small allowance, or pocket money (generally €350 or more per month,) and interpersonal
experience in a foreign country.
Working as an au pair is a great way to be immersed in the Roman community,
but the au pair must also be ready to dedicate much of her time to the
children. Often, parents expect the au pair to communicate with the children
in their mother tongue language; hence, an au pair does
not necessarily have to be fluent in Italian.
At the moment, there is a high demand for mother-tongue English speaking au
pairs in Rome, especially during the summer months. During the holidays,
many Roman families vacation to Tuscany, the seaside, or other surrounding regions
and happily bring the au pair along.
Au pairs are not professional nannies and generally should not be responsible
for infants or children under two years old. An au pair is usually expected
to fulfill a temporary position spanning from a few months, or up to two years.
The ideal au pair has had experience with children, is roughly between
the ages of 18 and 27, and has a valid visa, or is a citizen of the European
Union.
What the Au Pair must know
Hours, activities and duties:
- Usually up to 30 working hours maximum per week;
- Working hours include evening babysitting and childcare;
- Light housework meaning cleaning up after the children;
- Playing with and stimulating children;
- Act and integrate as a family member, (an au pair is not to be considered
a servant;)
- Seize the opportunity for cultural exchange.
Leisure time:
- During a 12 month stay, 2 weeks minimum vacation or leisure time;
- Duration of holidays should be determined and arranged between the au
pair and host family prior to the stage.
Room and board:
- Au pair should have own room
- Room should be kept tidy.
What the host family has to do
Role:
- Provide a schedule and detailed expectations;
- Treat the au pair as a family member;
- Provides opportunities for the au pair to be active in Roman and
Italian culture;
- Invites au pair on the family trips.
Financial obligations:
- Pay pocket money (usually a minimum of €350 per month);
- Host family should be responsible for providing insurance for the au
pair, including payment of health, accident, repatriation and liability
insurance during the duration of the exchange.
Other:
- Register the au pair with the appropriate authorities if required;
- In case visa/residence permit is required, host family should pay all expenses
required by their home country;
- The au pair should always be able to contact the au pair agency.
Source
European Committee for Au Pair Standards : http://www.ecapsweb.eu
Au Pair Links
If you want to register as an au pair or as a family, you can contact:
You can also consult:
Usually agencies will ask registration fees from the family, the au pair
or both.
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