An au pair is in charge of taking care of the children and lives within the home of the family. The au pair is provided accommodation and meals and a stipend of spending money. The family gains a loving caretaker for their children and an addition to the family. Expats have both found work, and employed, au pairs.
The concept of using an au pairs is common among expats in Egypt, but less so among the locals. As in many countries in the Arab world, Egyptian families are very close and usually handle childcare within the family. Individuals who work as au pairs in Egypt should adapt to Egyptian standards of discipline.
Nannies may be Egyptian, but also could be Sudanese, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Filipino or Indonesian. Salaries for full-time (five or six days a week) nannies range from 200 to 500 USD per month, though there is no standard wage. Along with variables such as nationality and demand, the pay scale is determined by requirements of the employer (washing, cleaning, cooking required), working hours, education, language skills, literacy, previous experience/references, driving skills, safety/first aid knowledge and training.
What the au pair must know
- Be conversant in either English of Egyptian Arabic
- Be between 18-25 years old
- Have a High School diploma or equivalent
- Be able to commit to at least a 6 month placement
- Have at least 6 months child care experience
- Be able to provide 3 references regarding your experience and character
- Be in good physical and mental condition as evidenced by a Physician's Report. Agree to a background check.
What the family has to do
- The au pair must have her own bedroom.
- The au pair will work to a maximum of 40 hours per week with a minimum 2 days off during the week.
- They understand that having an au pair does not mean having a servant. Au pairs may be asked to do some housework as agreed upon in the contract.
- If the au pair is required to drive the children to places then the family should pay for the gas and car maintenance. However, if the family allows the au pair to use the car for personal trips, the au pair should pay for her own gas.
- It may be of benefit to register the au pair at the family doctor.
Another excellent place to look is in expat forums. Here, other expats can give advice on the services they use and what to look for.
Agencies
Visa
If hired through an agency, the agency usually guides the au pair through the process. For more complete information on visas, consult the section on "Passport, Visa & Permits".
Update 4/12/2011
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