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How to apply for an Au pair at our agency?
Our service Our agency procures female and male Au pairs in the French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland for placements in Europe and other countries. In Switzerland, a Swiss Au pair is able to be placed after two or three “trial days” with a host family. The online registration of interest with us is both cost- and obligation-free. In order for us to find you an aupair you will need to fill an application form and send it back to us. After receipt of your fully-completed application and your payment of the registration fees (CHF 100.- ), we will contact you by phone to learn more about your personal desires and requirements. As a general rule, we offer each family the choice of two or three Au pairs, who could correspond with your requirements. We will advise you throughout the shortlisting process on how to select the most appropriate Au pair. You are also able to search for an Au pair that is best suited to your family here at “Find an Au pair”. We will also gladly help you with this search for your Au pair and assist you with dealings with the Immigration Offices (Ausländerämtern), the Embassies (Botschaften) and the Employment Offices (Arbeitsämtern). We will gladly offer you such assistance for the entire length of the Au pair's abode. Only the details of registered Au pairs are accessible on-line. Once you have decided on an Au pair, we will prepare the Employment Contract in compliance with the terms and conditions. Please allow at least three to four months for permission of entry to be granted to a foreign Au pair. The procedure to obtain a visa can last between 6 and 8 weeks. It is advised to make your application for an Au pair with this timescale in mind. The following documents are necessary in order to obtain the Work Permit for your Au pair: 1. Au Pair Agreement; 2. Host family and agency Agreement; 6. Confirmation of enrollment from a language school for the language course for the future Au pair; 7. Proof of financial security (bank statements, payslips). You can obtain documents 3, 4 and 5, depending on your place of residence, from the Office for Economy and Labour (Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit.) In order to obtain the Work Permit, registration for the language course must be made by the host family at a language school in their place of domicile. We will remain in personal contact with you during the length of stay of your Au pair and are readily available to answer any questions concerning the placement of your Au pair. What to expect as a host family in Switzerland The host family is obliged to honour the following conditions, in return for the assistance of the Au pair in their household and in order to maintain a good working relationship with the Au pair. Length of employment Length of abode: minimum of 6 months, to a maximum of 12 months Board/Lodging and Accommodation The host family will provide the Au pair with his/her own room, capable of being locked, which is well lit and heated (for winter), comfortably furnished with sufficient washbasin, shower or bathroom. Meals for the Au pair must be healthy and satisfactory for his/her personal needs. Au pair's working hours The Au pair is to work to a maximum of 6 hours per day and 30 hours per week.The Au pair is entitled to at least 2 full days off per week. The Au pair is to work until 7:30pm at the latest. If the aupair have to work past 7:30pm for any reason (f.ex. Babysitting) the extra hours should be compensated. The housewife or househusband has to be present in the house during at least half of the Au pair's working hours. The Au pair is to have unlimited opportunities to practice his/her religion. Free time and holidays The Au pair is entitled to four weeks paid holiday per year; five weeks are applicable until the Au pair reaches the age of 20. During his/her holiday, the Au pair is entitled to a wage paid in cash and compensation for the omitted wages in kind (room and board) in accordance with the amount specified by AHV/AVS. As a general rule, the holiday is to be during the course of the same year of service, and two consecutive weeks of holiday must be given. The host family decides the dates of holiday while also taking into account the desires of the Au pair. The occasions where the host family travels or holidays with the Au pair do not constitute as holiday for the Au pair him/herself. The Au pair should have the chance to enjoy his/her holidays in the absence of the host family. The Au pair's holiday is not to be exchanged for cash payment or benefits of any other kind during the term of employment. If the Au pair elects to work elsewhere during his/her holiday, the host family does not have to pay the Au pair for this time. If the holiday wages have already been paid, the host family is entitled to reclaim this money. Au pairs duties It is not the role of the Au pair to perform arduous housework. The primary role of the Au pair is to lie in the supervision of the children. Such roles include:
The Au pair can also expect light duties, such as:
Liability The Au pair is responsible for all damage caused to the host family, whether intentional or a result of carelessness. The Au pair Agency takes no responsibility for any assurances that the Au pair may make to the host family. Our Agency accepts no responsibility for the actuality, correctness or totality of the information provided from either party. Salary and minimum wage for an Au pair employee The Au pair's salary comprises both cash and wages in kind. Wages in kind include room and board. The minimum salary for Au pairs varies according to the cantons. It is therefore recommended that the host family finds out what are the conditions (Salary and insurance) applying in their residence canton. These informations can be obtained from the office for economy and labour (Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit). For days-off and holidays, the lump sum compensation of meals in the amount of CHF172.- must be paid each month. The salary is to be paid at the end of each month, accompanied by a payslip in written form. In order to obtain an example of salary certificate for au pairs or for questions related to insurances, the host family can contact Mr. Reinhard Angst per email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or per phone at: 079 348 10 64. Please note that the e-mail address is protected against spams, so Javascript must be activated in order for the message to be shown. Tax At the beginning of the Au pair's employment, the host family is obligated to register the Au pair with the cantonal Compensation Office (Gemeindeausgleichskasse). For information about AHV/IV/EO/ALV/BVG, the Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation or Caretakers Employment from the AHV/IV Information Centre. The AHV/IV/EO/ALV/BVG and half of the premium for health insurance, as well as the total premium for non-occupational accident insurance, are deducted from the gross wage. Tax liability begins at 18 years of age. Wages in kind from CHF 21.50 per day for accommodation are to be paid if the Au pair takes his/her holidays at the end of his/her abode. Language course The host family is to pay the cost of the language course as well as travel expenses to said language lessons, for a minimum of 120 course hours during the year. The Au pair is to begin the language course within four weeks after his/her arrival and it is the sole responsibility of the host family to file the confirmation of course enrollment with the relevant local authority. The host family is obliged to monitor the Au pair's attendance at the language school and, in case of problems, to offer the Au pair help at all times. Insurance After entry has been granted to the Au pair, the host family must organise private insurance for sickness, pregnancy, childbirth and accidents for him/her. If the Au pair falls ill, the host family is to continue providing accommodation and meals for him/her, together with appropriate care and support, as well as the continued payment of salary within 12 months during the first year of employment for a period of three weeks, and during the second year of employment for a period of eight weeks. If the Au pair is not with the host family, he/she has the right to the payment of wages in kind (meal compensation) of CHF 172.-. The continued payment of salary for accidents or illness can be cancelled if the Au pair intentionally causes injury or illness to him/herself through fault of his/her own. Daily benefits insurance is to be settled through the health insurance in favour of the Au pair. During the Au pair's illness, the host family is entitled to the daily expenses allowance. Once the Au pair has recovered, the payments go to the Au pair. The host family is liable for any uninsured risks. Termination of Employment Contract The first month of the Employment Contract is regarded as a probationary period. During this probationary period, both the Au pair and the host family are at any time able to terminate the Employment Contract. A notice period of seven days applies. Employment Contract. A notice period of seven days applies. 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 is not to be abused. 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, the Au pair has the right 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. We are a placement agency, therefore a placement fee must be paid. If the au pair's employment contract is terminated before the end of the trial period, no placement fee will be charged. If the contract is terminated after the trial period, the placement fee is due. Agency fees
The registration fees are to be paid at the time of registration with our agency and are non-refundable. The agency fees are first payable once you have found your Au pair and signed the contract, respectively. Upon signing the contract, the agency fees will be sent to you in the form of an invoice, for payment within 30 days. The fees as specified above are exclusive of Goods and Services/Value Added Tax (Ohne Mehrwertsteuer). You can find more information about conditions of employment for Au pairs at your local |
