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Detailed Information for families

Employing an Au Pair in Switzerland/Liechtenstein

Would you like to have more flexibility with your schedule? Would you like to have more free time to do sports, meet friends or pursue other interests or hobbies? If you answered yes to these questions, integrating a good Aupair in your family could be a great experience for you!

WHO CAN EMPLOY AUPAIRS?

Families, with a minimum of one child (younger than 16 years old), can apply to employ an Au Pair. However, the regulation indicates that one of the parents should accompany the au pair during at least 50% of her work time. There are also language restrictions to allow an Au Pair who does not come from EU countries to learn a new language. For example, if you live in the German part of Switzerland, your family language should be German but the Au Pair mother tongue can't be German because the candidate cannot have the same mother tongue as her employer. It is also mandatory to provide a room in your home for the Au pair.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH OUR AGENCY TO FIND A GOOD CANDIDATE?

  • As of January 2008, Swiss families have to work with a recognized organization to obtain a visa for the selected candidate outside EU. Wind Connections has the relevant licenses.
  • We can assist you in German, English and French.
  • If we help you find a candidate, you will be pleased with our applicants aged between 18 and 30 years of age. They speak French, German and/or English. Many are recruited in recognized schools offering academic programs in child´s education and baby-sitting services. They selected this academic field because they truly enjoy working with children and their family! Every candidate has to pass an entry interview to assess her experiences, interests and aptitudes for the job.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM AN AUPAIR EMPLOYEE?

  • She lives with your family for 12 months.
  • She works 30 hours a week (distributed on a maximum of 6 days / at least two Sundays per months must be free) to help the family with child care duties and light housework like ironing, tidying up toys or cooking. We recommend giving her an updated work plan every week to let her know when she should be there for you. If you clarify your own house rules with her from the beginning, she should not have problems following your instructions.
  • She may also baby-sit one to two additional evenings per week.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO EMPLOY AN AUPAIR?

  • Full Agency fee: Full services including recruiting/selecting/placing the right candidate, guidance through the legal process, all administrative tasks (including visa), support of the family and their candidate during the year. Our registration fee is SFr 150 to cover the initial administrative expenses and the obligatory personal interview. This amount is non refundable but is valid as long as you need aupairs. If we find the right candidate, our recruitment and placement fee is SFr 1300. This fee includes the interview of the candidate in her country of origin, the administrative support to obtain relevant visa/work permit, coaching of the family and the au pair to prepare her arrival and our support during the year you spend together.
  • Additional fee for partner agencies in Poland and France : If a family recruits a candidate from one of our partner agencies, the incremental fee is SFr 500.
  • Additional fee for partner agency in the Philippines: If a family recruits a candidate from our partner agency in the Philippines, the incremental fee is SFr 1990.
  • Work/residence permit : Official charges paid to local authorities to obtain the visa (please count 4 to 6 weeks delay after you file a request) are between SFr 400 and SFr 600.
  • Registry in your community. It cost about SFr 80- SFr 120, depending where you live. Since 2011. a biometric version of the L permit is necessary for non European candidates to travel within the Schengen countries. You community will assist you. the additional cost is SFr 137.
  • Au Pair salary: between SFr 700 to SFr 800 per month based on her age and the number of children that she will be responsible for.
  • Vacation: Allow her four weeks of paid vacation for one completed year of work. If she is below 20 years old, she is entitled to get one additional week of vacation.
  • Language school: Allow her some time to attend her mandatory language classes (120 hours for one year contract). You have to pay 100% of the language school (about SFr 100 depending on the selected program and school).
  • Health and accident insurance/Pension plan: The health and accident insurance are mandatory for your Au Pair as may be a pension fund. It costs about SFr 170 per month depending on the selected health/accident insurance company and chosen coverage/franchise. You can deduct from her salary 50% of the health and accident insurance except for the accident at work coverage where you pay 100%. Many families in the canton of Zurich absorb these costs.
  • Taxes and social charges (AHV/IV/EO/ALV): Her income taxes and social security charges will cost around SFr 200 per month depending where you live. 50% can be deducted from her salary. However, many families pay these charges for their employee.
  • Room in your house: Although it is not an extra cost, you must realize that an extra person at the table may make a difference on your household budget.
  • Air plane ticket: The regulation varies in each canton.

HOW DO WE SELECT AUPAIRS?

Most of our candidates are recruited in schools offering academic programs in child´s education and baby-sitting services. Our agents in Canada and Australia or our partner agencies interview them to evaluate:

  • Their interests and positives experiences working with children.
  • Important personal qualities for the job like honesty, reliability, self confidence, patience, maturity, ability to communicate and listen, ability to handle responsibilities, flexibility and creativity.
  • When candidates are accepted, we pass their file to you so you can call them to establish a contact.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM OUR AU PAIR AGENCY?

  • Wind Connections is an Officially Licensed Au Pair Agency.
  • We provide professional services in every step of the process:
    • We interview our candidates in their country of origin and the families in Switzerland-Liechtenstein to ensure that each personal placement file complies with applicable regulations. We also try to better understand mutual needs and expectations in order to increase the chance of success for all.
    • We handle information with confidentiality.
    • We offer our help to the families to simplify administrative tasks.
    • We offer our help to Au Pairs to facilitate their integration in their new environment.

HOW DO YOU APPLY TO GET AN AU PAIR?

Use our family application form. We will call you to discuss next steps and answer your questions.