No minimum stay defined.

The maximum stay is 12 months.

An au pair is allowed to work 5 hours a day and 30 hours per week.

The au pair should have at least one day off per week, with at least one Sunday a month.

The au pair is allowed to have 5 weeks holidays per year until her/his twenties. After that age, the au pair is legally entitled to 4 weeks holidays per year.

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!

Complex activities, including children's education, the teaching of foreign languages school support, are not allowed.

Au Pair employees are not domestics: careful mentoring from the host family is essential. The host family has to be with the au pair for half of the time (15 hours out of 30).

The net minimum wage to be paid monthly is based on:

• the Municipal guidelines
• the standard work contract for domestic employees

Based on minimum wage for domestic employees of 18,55 CHF per hour, the gross monthly minimum wage (for 130 hours per month) is 2411,50 CHF. From this gross monthly wage, the host family and the au pair pays the following contributions:

• social security
• unemployment insurance benefits
• welfare benefits

Additional details can be located under here and on the Information Centre OASI/DI website.

Once all the deductions have been made, the au pair receives an amount of pocket money around 700-800 CHF.

The cost of board and lodging have to be borne by the host family.

This is also the case for the au pair's sicknesses and holidays.

However some costs can be deducted from the au pair's pocket money according to the AHV regulations.

An au pair is entitled to have her/his own room.

Attending a language course (language spoken in the Canton/(Municipality) and in the host family) is compulsory and must be arranged in advance. 

It must be proven that the au pair has received a minimum of 120 hours from a language course.

The costs of the classes have to be born by the host family.

The host family has to pay the au pair's inbound and outbound flight.

The host family has to provide the au pair with a health and accident coverage. Half of the costs are to be borne by the au pair.

Recommendation:

• Private & professional liability

With such an all-inclusive liability for the au pair it is clear who pays for the damage in case of an accident.

The employer has the obligation to ensure the au pair against disease and sickness from the Swiss health insurance system. Half of the costs have to be borne by the host family.

The au pair pocket money is fully taxable.

The cost for the family are:

• Pocket money (at least 2411.50 CHF monthly including the social contributions)
• the language courses
• the transportation costs to and from the language courses
• roundtrip flights for the au pair
• eventually additional car insurance costs if the au pair should use the vehicle of the host family.

There is a placement fee for au pairs from third countries. 

The agency fee is dependent on the respective licensed SECO placement agency through which the au pair is mediated and can therefore vary.

Fixed-term contracts end upon the expiry of the agreed contract term. No notice is required.