There are no rules for a minimum stay as an au pair.

The duration of the au pair's stay has usually a maximum of 12 months.

However, there can be exceptions / shorter stays of the au pair if

• either the host family's approval to host an au pair is withdrawn
• or the au pair's authorisation to be hosted by an approved family has been withdrawn

Both due to the fact that one of them ceases to meet the conditions for the approval.

For more information hereabout please see the au pair guide  provided by the National Youth Service (SNJ = Service national de la jeunesse)

According to Luxembourgish regulations, the maximum hours of work 

• are 30 hours per week on average over a period of one month / four weeks.
• shall not exceed 5 hours per day on average over a period of one week

More detailled information about the prerequisites a family has to meet to be able to employ an au pair can be found here (available in French and German).

According to the au pair guide provided by the National Youth Service (SNJ) the au pair has the right to

• at least 3 free evenings per week, plus
• a whole day off per week and
• two additional days off per month (see => holidays)

The au pair is entitled to two days off per month.

The daily work of an au pair varies widely. It wholly depends on the type and lifestyle of the family that is hosting the au pair. In general, an au pair's everyday work includes:

• Carrying out light housework such as helping to keep the home clean and tidy as well as washing and ironing clothes;
• Making breakfast and simple meals;
• Looking after younger children, i.e. supervising them, accompanying them to kindergarten, to school or specific activities, bringing them for walks, playing with them;
• Watching over the house or apartment and looking after pets

Which work should and can be done by an au pair? Which work an au pair definitely doesn't have to do? Discuss with others in our community!

Keeping in mind that the au pair is allowed to take out "light housework", the following tasks are, based on common practice,  not part of the daily work of an au pair:

• Looking after family members in need of care (caring for the sick and elderly)
• Garden work
• Cleaning windows
• Spring cleaning
• Washing cars
• Cleaning carpets
• Doing lots of shopping
• Washing pets
• Making the host parents' bed
• Cleaning the toilet
• Ironing difficult items of clothing
• Cleaning the entire house / flat

Recommendation:

• Discuss all of the au pair tasks beforehand and write them down in the au pair placement agreement
• Put all of the au pair tasks in a timetable
• And don't forget: Talk with your host family.=> This avoids problems and misunderstandings from the very beginning on.

For more information please visit the au pair guide, provided by the National Youth Service.

Which work should not and cannot be done by an au pair? Which work an au pair definitely doesn't have to do? Discuss with others in our community!

The pocket money has to be wired monthly in a fixed sum, equivalent to a quarter of the national minimum wage. The corresponding amount as of January 1st, 2017 is €499,65 per month.

The pocket money is not subject to general taxation and social security contributions.

Note:

One of the prerequisites for the host family to get the written agreement by the Minister of Family and Integration is to wire the pocket money on a monthly base. (reference you can find here in section "become a host family - application for approval")

Board and lodging are provided by the family for free.

The au pair is entitled to his/her own room.

As a further prerequisite for the au pair to obtain an approval for authorisation to be hosted by a family the au pair agrees to

• attend language classes during his / her stay as an au pair

The host family has to 

• give the au pair the possibility to attend a language course and
• pay for the course

For more information please have a look at the au pair guide provided by National Youth Service (SNJ).

No official regulation, but depending on the agreement between the au pair and the host family, the travel costs will be either split between parties or paid in full by the host family or the au pair. This usually depends on the length of the au pair's stay and will be decided by the host family.

In order to obtain the approval to host an au pair the host family has to agree to

• submit a certificate to the National Youth Service (SNJ) proving they have taken out a statutory health and accident insurcance scheme for the au pair and to
• take out a civil liability insurance with a duly approved insurer in Luxembourg for the au pair

The host family has to cover the costs for these insurances.

For more information please have a look at the au pair guide provided by National Youth Service (SNJ).

The host family must register the au pair with the CCSS (Centre of Social Security) to establish health and accident insurance cover in the au pair's name encompassing the full duration of his/her stay. The family must submit an entry declaration to the CCSS. The CCSS then forwards confirmation of the registration of the au pair to the family, which must be sent to the SNJ within the first month of the stay of the au pair.  

As pocket money is not considered a salary, the family is responsible for the registration fees with the social security.

The pocket money is not subject to taxation

The family has to take charge of the following expenses: 

Monthly expenses: 

• Pocket money equivalent to a quarter of the minimum social wage (499,65€) as of January 1st, 2017
• Registration with the social security (100,00€  ≈  - contributions on the level of SSM at a rate of 30 hrs weekly)
• Housing of the au pair in a single room; 
• Food.

Capital expenses:

• insurance “civil liability” ;
• language courses.

Where necessary: 

• expenses of an early repatriation of the au pair due to illness, accident, withdrawal of the approval or of the au pair’s authorisation.
• eventually a higher care insurance fee in case the au pair is allowed to use the host family's car.

For more information please have a look at the au pair guide provided by National Youth Service (SNJ).

The stay of the au pair terminates by operation of law on the intended end date, in the case of withdrawal of approval of the host family or in the case of withdrawal of authorization of the au pair.

If the approval of the family is withdrawn, the authorization of the au pair remains valid as long as a new hosting agreement is presented within one month. 

The contract may be terminated prematurely, with immediate effect, in case serious misconduct of any party and upon notice of at least one month in all other cases. The party who intends to terminate the hosting agreement must inform the other party in writing with a copy to the National Youth Service (SNJ).

When the host family intends to terminate the hosting agreement before the term expires, it shall, prior to any decision, summon the applicant for an interview where the reasons are explained and where explanations are collected from the au pair. The host family and the au pair have the right to request the mediating presence of a representative of the SNJ, provided that they have informed the other party in advance and in due time.

For more information please have a look at the au pair guide provided by National Youth Service (SNJ).