Au Pair programs began in 1960 and involve staying with a foreign family and taking care of a child (children) in exchange for foreign language skills practice and studying the culture of the host country for a period ozone year. Ukrainian citizens gained access to this program in the early 90’s. According to the rules, the age of participants should be from 19 to 24, and they should be single. The host family pays for the trip, provides accommodation and board, as well as pays for language courses, transport passes (in Germany only), and a monthly allowance (about 200 euros). The family is also responsible for medical insurance (in Germany only). This insurance does not cover treatment of chronic or psychiatric diseases. At the same time, the au pair offers childcare services (about 30 hours a week) and is obliged to attend language courses.
Documents necessary for participation in thecae Pair program:
passport size pictures (number of pictures and format as requested); if you have childcare experience, then several pictures of with your family, with children you took care of; a medical certificate stating an absence of chronic diseases; reference letters from the employer describing your personality, your attitude towards work, and your life principles. Reference letters can be given by the parents of the children for which you cared. Names and addresses of the people giving reference letters should be provided. If you worked at a kindergarten, add reference letter from the organization; copy of your school (university) transcript and a document certifying knowledge of the language of the country to which you are planning to go.
Foreign families looking for an au pair study this information. If you are selected, the host family sends information about them and draft agreement. You have the right to introduce changes or refuse this family.
During the first week after entering the foreign country it is necessary to register with the State Registration Department, Department for Foreigners, and only then it is possible to apply for a work permit from the Employment Department. The first residence permit is usually issued for a term of 1-3 months. Within this period, it is required to have a medical checkup the expenses for which are to be covered by the host family. Only after this it is possible to apply for a one-year residence permit. Renewal of this permit (prolongation of the term of stay) is impossible.
An au pair’s duties:
- waking up, dressing, bathing, entertaining and feeding the children;
- cook light meals or help with cooking, make the children’s beds, wash and iron their clothes;
- take the children to school and for walks;
- shopping, vacuum cleaning, dishwashing and other house chores specified in the contract;
- stay at home if children are on sick leave or have vacations;
- stay with children in the evening (the family should ask for it);
- respect family traditions and traditions of the host country;
- knowledge of the laws of the host country.
An au pair’s rights:
· private room;
· right to any food preferred;
· pocket money;
· vacations (2-4 weeks) if au pair is staying for a whole year;
· advancement of knowledge of foreign language;
· possibility to change the family in case of conflicts;
· medical insurance (in Germany only);
· transport pass (in Germany only).
Duties of the host family:
- legal citizenship of the country;
- living close to an institution where the au pair can study foreign language, good access to public transport;
- allow the au pair to attend language courses or higher educational institutions for no less than 6 hours a week;
- provide private room and board;
- allow free time and days off;
- give pocket money;
- treat the au pair as a distant relative rather than a hired employee;
- during first 1-2 days after au pair’s arrival, one or both parents, or other adults living in the house should help him/her to adjust, get to know the children, the house, and the area where they live;
- understand that the au pair is not obliged to do chores not related to childcare.
Useful Information
Make sure that your passport is valid for the period of time specified in your contract.
1) Term of stay is stated on your au pair visa.
2) Draft contract sent by the host family should include a clause about European system medical insurance. Some countries ask for an insurance policy issued by the country of residence.
3) The contract is made for a period from three months to one year.
4) If you drive a car, get an international driver’s license. As a rule, European cars, are standard, therefore it is possible to learn to drive.
5) Your monthly allowance will amount to 200 euros.
6) You should have experience with children: childcare, children’s camps, life-saving services, youth leader, teacher, volunteer etc. You should submit reference letters proving your experience with children
“My daughter met a foreigner on the Internet. They stayed in touch for one year and want to meet. This man invited my daughter to visit him. How is it possible to make her stay there safe?”
It would be better for them to meet in Ukraine, or in a third country, because she might become dependant on him. If she decides to go, we recommend that she and everyone in this situation do the following:
- keep your passport to yourself. Make several copies of the passport and take them with you;
- leave your relatives and friends detailed information about where you are going to and information about a person inviting you such as: his/her address, phone number, your latest picture, photocopy of the passport;
- at home, agree how you will stay in touch. Before leaving, agree on a password that would mean that you need help (e.g. you can say “good morning” in the evening etc.);
- find out phone contact data of the Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, or your life is at risk, it is recommended to appeal to diplomatic missions of your country for assistance;
- if you became a victim of violence or your rights were violated, call the La Strada hotline for prevention of human trafficking.
“My sister went to UAE for employment. A while ago, she called and told me that her documents were taken away and she was forced to become a prostitute. She asked me to help her to return to Ukraine. How can I help her?”
The International Women’s Rights Center “La Strada – Ukraine” provides free assistance for the search of women missing abroad and the return of trafficked victims. In order to start searching and assist with their return, please, send the following data to 03113 Kyiv -113, POB 26 (“La Strada – Ukraine”):
- family name, given name and patronymic of the person to search for/be assisted;
- address in Ukraine;
- date and goal of trip abroad;
- address abroad and contact phones (if available);
- travel passport number, issuing authority, term of validity;
- family name, given name, patronymic, address and contact number of the person applying for assistance;
- latest picture of the missing person, distinctive features;
- date of the last contact with the missing person. During phone conversation with the missing person (if you are contacted per phone) try to find as many details as possible about his/her location (name of the city, street name). If this information is unavailable, ask what s/he can see from the windows or where s/he is kept etc.
All of the above data is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ukrainian Embassy in the country where the missing person is staying and international and non-governmental organizations working in the field of human trafficking prevention.
“I want to work abroad and contacted an employment agency. I was promised a legal job. What does this mean?”
Legal employment is possible (with some exceptions) only in the states with which the government of Ukraine signed intergovernmental labor agreements for mutual employment of citizens and their social protection such as Belarus, Armenia, Vietnam, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and the Russian Federation. If a person is trying to find employment in the above states, it is necessary to sign labor agreement with the employer (the agreement memo is given below). Legal employment in other countries is only possible for rare specialists, highly qualified professionals, athletes, artistic elite, scientists, etc. If a person wants to go to the country with which no labor agreement was signed, it is required to submit an invitation from the employer made in the name of the potential employee. A work visa is issued upon receipt of the official invitation and labor agreement (work contract). Only a work visa permits employment abroad.
“I am planning to find a job abroad. The company guarantees legal employment and will sign an agreement. What should it be like?”
First of all, it is necessary to check availability of license for this kind of activity (refer to Question 1). The agreement should be signed not with the Ukrainian company, but with the employer offering a job abroad. The agreement should be made in two languages: Ukrainian and the language of the host country. If you don’t understand the agreement made in the foreign language, ask for an official translation. Never sign the agreement if you don’t understand even one or several words in it. The agreement should not contain clauses giving unclear or indistinct description of the work offered (e.g. “the employee is to perform other kinds of work”). It is important that the agreement includes provisions about working conditions, work place, working time, amount of salary, and medical insurance. If the country to where the person is going has no cooperation agreements with Ukraine, the employer is to submit both the agreement and the official invitation. The official invitation and contract provide for issuance of work visa and legal employment abroad.
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