| Info for au pairs |
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Au pairs in Switzerland
Our service
Prior to your engagement: We will contact you personally, in order to get to know you and evaluate your language skills. We will also take you through the terms and conditions of Au pair employment. After your engagement: We will keep in regular contact with you after your engagement as an Au pair, as you settle into the new culture and life with your host family. In the event of problems, we are readily available to offer you support and advice. We will verify the compliance of the employment contract and assist you with finding a language school. As your first point of contact, we are at your service. What are the advantages of becoming an Au pair?
As an Au pair, you will get to know a new culture and live with a foreign family. In return for looking after their children, you will receive an allowance, and free accommodation and meals. Whatever your plans are for the future, an Au pair experience will give you several advantages:
Where else can you work as an Au pair? You can work in the following countries: China, Spain, Germany, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Austria and Island. You can find information about the employment terms and conditions for Au pairs in these countries by clicking on the following link: "Au pair by country”. Work permit and application forms Switzerland employs applicants from EU countries as well as from countries outside the EU, so long as you have a valid passport and a Swiss work permit. The work permit is to be applied for and paid for by the host family. This process can take up to three months. Applicants from non-EU countries also need a Visa, which can be applied for upon receiving the Swiss work permit. The costs for obtaining the Visa, as well as travel costs to the host country, are paid for by the Au pair. For placements outside of Switzerland, the employment terms and conditions will be those of the host country. Requirements:
Length of abode in Switzerland An Au pair can stay in Switzerland for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 1 year. Working hours and holidays A normal working week for an Au pair consists of about 30 hours, from which a maximum of 2-3 evenings should be spent looking after the children. You are entitled to 2 hours off per day as well as 2 days off per week. A work day should end at 7:30pm. If you have to work past 7:30pm for any reason (f.ex. Babysitting), the extra hours should be compensated. The employer is obliged to keep a log of the overtime worked, which should be calculated at end of each month. In general, the employment contract lasts for 12 months and the obligation to pay tax begins at 18 years of age. Public Holidays The Au pair is not to work on public holidays. The Au pair is to receive time in Lieu if he/she works on a public holiday. Holidays The Au pair is entitled to a meal compensation for each day off. Au pairs younger than 20 years old are entitled to 4 weeks holiday. Au pairs older than 20 years old are entitled to 5 weeks holiday. If the Au pair is employed for a year, he/she has the right to 4 weeks’ paid holidays. If the contract duration is 6 months, she/he has the right to 2 weeks’ holiday. The Au pair should take two consecutive weeks of holiday, and potential dates for holiday must be discussed with the host family. Holidays taken with the host family are considered as working hours. The Au pair is to take holidays independent of the host family. These regulations concerning working hours and holidays should be respected by both the Au pair and the host family. An Au pair’s Responsibilities and Duties Duties: Your primary role is to look after the children. Such responsibilities include:
You can also expect light duties, such as:
Most families already have a cleaning lady and only need someone to take care of their children. Should this not be the case, please inform us. Responsibilities:
Au pair’s Entitlements: You are entitled to the following:
Termination of Employment Contract The first month of the Employment Contract is regarded as a probationary period. During this probationary period, both you and the host family are at any time able to terminate the Employment Contract, with a notice period of seven days applying. After expiry of the probationary period, the Employment Contract can be terminated in writing at the end of a month, with a notice period of one month applying. The termination of the Employment Contract, in accordance with Art.336.OR (Swiss Federal Legislation) is not to be misused. In the case of problems with your host family, we will be there to support and advise you at all times. Should we not be able to come to a mutual agreement and you choose not to work for your host family anymore, you will be required to provide us with a written letter of resignation, including the request to place you with a different host family. If you elect not to do the latter, then your stay in Switzerland will be regarded as over and you will be required to leave. The same rule is applicable to other European countries. Termination of Employment Contract without notice and unfair dismissal of an Au pair in accordance with Art.337OR The Employment Contract can be terminated for cause without prior notice at any time. The cancellation of the contract without prior notice must be justified in written form. In particular, for cause applies to any circumstance existing for the Employer and where, in good faith, the working relationship cannot be expected to continue. Without cause and without complying with the period of notice of cancellation, you are entitled to the gross wage for the determined length of the contract, or for the period up until the cessation of the notice period, as well as, if relevant, compensation for any other loss that arises as a result of the unfair dismissal. In an emergency, we will do our best to place you somewhere else. Health and Accident Insurance Half of the health and non-work-related accident insurance are covered by the host family and the other half by you. Work-related accident insurance is entirely paid by the host family. The latter is obliged to organise the health and accident insurance for you. Health and accident insurance comprises:
Salary The minimum salary for au pairs varies from canton to canton, but is pursuant to the standard employment contract in Switzerland. It ranges from 480.- CHF to 800.- CHF per month. The wages in kind are in accordance with AHV specifications and comprise meals and accommodation. The family deduces from the gross wage the contributions for AHV/IV/EO/ALV (6,25%) and half of the costs of health insurance. Your host family is required to provide you with monthly payslips.
Continued payment of salary in the event of accident or illness If you cannot work due to an accident or illness, you are entitled to both medical treatment and to be paid for the equivalent of 3 weeks’ work. If you are not living with your host family during your illness/injury, you are entitled to meal compensation. After the 4th day of illness/injury, you may be requested to produce a doctor’s certificate. Language course The host family pays for the language course. Course registration has to be filed with the local authorities in order to obtain the work permit. Public transportation costs to attend the language course are paid for by the host family. However, there are a number of alternatives. The host family could buy a monthly train ticket for you, or lend you their car. This would require, of course, that you have a valid international driving licence. If the language school is not too far away, you could use a bicycle, or the host family could take you to school and collect you at the end of the lesson. Letter of reference You are entitled to a letter of reference at the expiration of your term of employment. This document contains information about the length of employment, the duties performed and the quality of execution of such duties. Application documents
Important: All of these documents will be verified before your placement.
Registration fees :
The registration fee must be paid upon registration and is non-refundable. Au pairs will not be charged a placement fee. The abovementioned prices are exclusive of VAT/GST. Liability Au pairs are not responsible for any damages, except if caused by the Au pair. You can find more information about employment terms and conditions of Au pairs by clicking on the following link, or by visiting the website for the "Federal Office for Migration"
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