Au pair exploitation prompts new group 

Source: ONE NewsCecilia Robinson has set up an association to protect au pairs

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Every year hundreds of young people come to New Zealand to act as live-in nannies or au pairs for Kiwi families but there are concerns some are being exploited.
 
It's largely an unregulated industry and one woman, Cecilia Robinson, is so concerned about exploitation she has set up an association to protect au pairs.
 
Julia Pochodzalla is one of about 700 au pairs working in New Zealand.

She loves working with two-year-old Harry, but her first experience with a Kiwi family wasn't what she had signed up for.

"I had to live in a caravan without any toilet and a shower and a heater and it was in the winter. I came there in July," says Pochodzalla.

She was also treated as a full-time cleaner.

"I want to say to my friends 'don't be an au pair in New Zealand'," she says.  

Au pairs are expected to help with childcare and some chores in exchange for board and an allowance.

But Robinson claims some are exploited.

"I've heard of girls who get paid $30 per week for up to 40 hours work, girls that get treated as house cleaners and maids," she says.

She has set up the New Zealand Au Pair Association to ensure agencies in New Zealand follow international standards. Legally, au pairs are entitled to the minimum wage, annual and sick leave.

The association ensures those legal obligations are met, that proper screening and interviews are conducted before placement and it clearly sets out exactly what duties can be expected from an au pair.

ONE News called some other au pair agencies to see what they thought about the association. While most supported it, some raised concerns about it being run by the owner of a large agency.

"Its' about promoting the industry as a whole and I think that the people who'll do that best and that are most passionate about that are people that work in the industry," says Robinson.

She hopes she will be able to make all au pairs' New Zealand experience a good one.