Help for Au Pair in Aargau

Hi,

we are looking for an au pair girl and we read the rules which apply to au pair girls in Aargau ( http://www.international-aupair.com/...oad/aargau.pdf ). Sorry i couldn't find that text on the original website, it's not an ad!

It looks very restrictive, specially the rule concerning the speaking language which should be German. We can speak German with the Au Pair but it's not our home official language. And Swiss speak Swiss German at home, not German!! So only Germans in Aargau could theoretically apply, that's a joke...

That say, we would like to know people from Aargau who successfully hired an au pair from outside EU and could share their advice on how to successfully make somebody come.

Thanks a lot!

Well, the idea of an au pair is that the girl can learn the language of the country she works in and that in a family environment?

Better look then for a nanny or a Tagesmutter

Yes for sure that's the idea. But first I would speak with her in German as well as my wife and she would also follow the mandatory courses in German, having her social life in German (if she wants), etc.

Well anyway my question is more how can a non native German speaking familly host an Au Pair in Aargau? Any experiences?

We are also looking in the nanny direction but as so far we were not successful we look for other solutions.

It doesn ́t say you have to be German/Swiss, it says you have to SPEAK German at home. And if you do that (consequently), you can go for an au pair.

Usually people who speak swiss-german can also speak german (hochdeutsch). Also most people comming to switzerland and learning the language learn german-german...

You can't learn swiss-german without knowing german-german. You learn swiss-german by also learning german-german.

If you go ahead with the au-pair, talk german (hochdeutsch) so she can learn the language, but maybe also try some swiss-german (depending on her german level) so the culture is also involved as it's the objective of an au-pair job.

Ouch, I would never try to learn German from a native French -speaker as the thread opener obviously is. I also do not think this would be allowed in Baden where the local language is Swiss German.

Being cheap with childcare is also not a very good idea. An au-pair can leave a family more or less without notice. Reliable childcare costs some money.

This is a post from another thread that might also help:

I am not sure if Aargau has special rules, but if OP is a native French speaker,

then maybe the family could simply host a non-native French speaker - even a Swiss girl from the German-speaking part. The person could then learn French, not German.

OP - also think about what your childcare needs are. Au pairs are limited to the number of hours per week they work, and at least one parent needs to be home 50% of the time (from the link in Medea's post). If you need more hours or for the parents to both be gone, you're going to need a nanny or tagesmutter.

Doesn't work that way.

Page 2 clealy states that the normal language of the family must be German.

And a Swiss can only be an au-pair in Switzerland in another linguistic region.

Tom

Sorry to branch a little off-topic. But are these language rule just Switzerland's Au-pair rules? Or do they apply world wide? Just because Louise Woodward (famous au-pair case) was British in the USA.... so obviously no language learning element there

Definitely Swiss, though some EU countries have similar language learning criteria as part of the requirements. Swiss law here:

" The Law on Foreign Nationals, in force since 1 January 2008, has introduced the following changes :

Au pairs from third countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Thailand, etc.) can only receive permits if they are placed through an agency which is approved and licensed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Currently there are only few such agencies specialising in the placement of au-pairs (e.g. pro filia). However, we expect the number to increase throughout the year. Au pairs may now be placed only if they are between 18 to 25 years old.

Placement through an agency is not necessary if employing au pairs from EU/EFTA countries. The age range for au pairs from EU/EFTA countries remains between 17 and 30 years of age. Au pairs from “old” EU or EFTA member states (e.g. France, Spain, UK, Norway, etc.) receive their short-time residence permit or residence permit after presenting a work contract and registering themselves with the communal authorities. Au pairs from the new EU member states (e.g. Poland, Slovakia) still require a residence permit from the cantonal authorities."

vongillus, you would have to approach an approved Swiss organisation such as Pro Filia or Perfect Way as non-EU au pairs can only be organised through them. Perfect Way has more info on what the rules are for both nannies and au pairs.

http://www.perfectway.ch/en/for-fami…formation.html

http://www.profilia.ch/d/

The cantonal rules for Aargau for non-EU au pairs is here:

http://www.perfectway.ch/fileadmin/d…TA_Staaten.pdf

US au pair system is different, more a general study thing and nothing to do with language.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pair#United_States

Which, like the link in the OP, clearly states that the normal family language MUST be German.

(in fact, it's the same document!)

Tom

Yeah, but mine’s dated 2016. OP’s link has a 2011 one. Not that they’re any different I suspect, but might be worth double checking to be sure.

They still both state that the family must normally speak German.

OP speaks French, so no dice.

Tom

It's the same world wide, as far as I know. The family who employed Louise Woodward, tragically as we know, broke all the rules, as she was in sole charge of a young baby all day - totally against the rules too (30 hrs max a week, 50% of which must be in presence of a parent as a helper).

We employed 3 Au Pairs in the UK, 2 French Swiss and 1 German, and we had to assure the agency that we spoke English at home, so they could be in full immersion, and I was interviewed so they could ascertain my level of English. The rule is clear, full immersion as well as a course, in the local language.

No, incorrect. From my Wiki link on the US system:

"The United States au pair program offers qualified young people the opportunity to live and study in the U.S. for one or two years in exchange for providing up to 45 hours of childcare per week.[31] The au pair program was recently granted permission from the U.S. Department of State to offer a second year extension au pair program (6, 9 or 12 months), as well as a summer au pair program.

At the same time, the au pairs are required to complete an educational component of six semester hours of academic credit or its equivalent. At the end of one year, au pairs generally return to their home country, unless they and their host families choose to extend their stay for a further 6, 9, or 12 months. Alternatively, the au pair can choose to extend her period in the US with a different family. Most au pairs choose a family in a different part of the country, allowing them to have a new experience.

In the US, au pairs are provided a private bedroom, meals, remuneration tied to the minimum wage ($195.75 per week as of 24 July 2009[32]), 1 day off weekly plus a full weekend off each month, two weeks’ paid vacation, and the first $500 toward the costs of required course work to be completed at an accredited institution of higher education in order to satisfy the requirements of the educational component of the program. Au pairs are not to work more than 10 hours per day or 45 hours per week, and are not to serve as general housekeepers or assume responsibility for household management.

The US EduCare Au Pair Program is also available for families with school-age children. In this program, the au pair works a lower number of hours (not more than 10 hours a day and not more than 30 hours a week) for a weekly minimum wage of $132.64 (raised to $146.81 on 24 July 2009 in accordance with the federal minimum wage increases).[32] The family pays $1000 in educational expenses, and the au pair is required to complete 12 hours of academic credit.

Au pairs placed with families who have children under two years old must have at least 200 hours of child care experience with infants under two. Au pairs may only be placed in a family with an infant under three months old if a parent or other adult caregiver is also home and fully responsible for the infant."

Nor is there any requirement for a parent to be supervising except for the first 3 days.

" To qualify as a host family, the following requirements mandated by the State Department must be met:
A parent or other responsible adult must remain home for the first three days after the au pair’s arrival
Child must be at least three months of age, unless a parent or other responsible adult is present
There must be a written agreement between the au pair and the host family limiting hours worked to 10 hours per day and 30 hours (if in the EduCare program) or 45 hours (otherwise) per week
Au pair must be provided with a suitable private bedroom
Host family must interview the au pair by telephone or video chat prior to departure from his or her country
Host family must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
Host parents must be fluent in English
Host family must pay the au pair a weekly stipend of $195.75"

" The U.S. Department of State requires that Au Pairs are:
Proficient in spoken English;
A secondary school graduate or equivalent; and
Between 18-and-26-years-old.
Capable of fully participating in the program as evidenced by the satisfactory completion of a physical.
Personally interviewed, in English, by an organizational representative who shall prepare a report of the interview which shall be provided to the host family; and
Successful in passing a background investigation that includes verification of school, three, non-family related personal and employment references, a criminal background check or its recognized equivalent and a personality profile. Such personality profile will be based upon a psychometric test designed to measure differences in characteristics among applicants against those characteristics considered most important to successfully participate in the au pair program."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pai…_pair_Agencies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pair#

Why were you not successful in finding a Nanny? There are a lot of nannies available.

If I were you I would speak with one of the agencies, as you will need to register with and go through and agency if you want a non-EU AuPair. My host family used Perfect Way and we were very happy with them.

The rules vary between each canton and it seems like when I was getting registered the authorities really are not used to processing non-EU aupair visas so I was told different things every time I called and was told different things by the agency. Ultimately, the agency submits all the paperwork and makes your life a lot easier.

The rule in Bern is that the mother tongue of the AuPair and parents must be different, and you have to attend language schools in the language of the canton (so - German). I think that if you speak German fluently and the AuPair is going to German school, you should be okay. I know one US aupair who lived in Romandie and the family spoke Swiss German at home but she was enrolled in French school... so there are all sorts of scenarios.

I have asked now 2 agencies and I will see what comes out. I'll post my results here.