Why Au Pairs Are Paid Only $4.35/hour

Every year, around 20,000 young women and men come to the United States as au pairs to care for children, learn about American culture and improve their English. The cultural exchange program is organized by the federal government and is especially popular among families who need flexible childcare at an affordable rate. But the program has sparked a lot of criticism, mainly because au pairs only make $4.35/hour.

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The Business Of Au Pairs

[wqmf]

"We're rich, but we don't want to pay a good salary, "

[ltlttltl]

“I think I and my husband we learned how to be better parents” by under paying someone else to do your job!

[Wanderer]

In a nation of rising childcare costs this whole program is just another tax and income loophole by the rich. Exploitation and cheap labor.

[baseycaker]

No way that au pair is going to say they need to negotiate while sitting across the table from the mom. Ask her at the end of her term.

[CrazyPotatos]

“It’s considered elite to want affordable childcare”

Proceeds to show a family who lives in a mansion

[magdalenabaumgartner]

I wish they talked to Au Pairs and not so many clients. I don't see how this is a cultural exchange at all considering that they are likely only raising children.

[airgunningyup]

what cultural experience are you getting watching 5 children for peanuts ? basically torture

[jdthompson]

You’re interviewing au pairs in front of their hosts expecting them to answer honestly? So ridiculous.

This is such a ridiculous segment. It’s obvious this is modern day slavery/indentured servants. If it was really about cultural immersion, why is it that just wealthy people get au pairs if it’s an option for affordable child care? It’s rich people just being cheap.

Every American I know that has study abroad in a different country lives in a shack basically with the basics provided. Never a mansion lol.

[katemoffatt]

I like how they say middle class but I have never met anybody in my life as somebody in the middle class who does this

[stillnotspicy]

morty: well that justs sounds like slavery with a bunch of extra steps

[Lynell]

The company I use to work for a lot of our clients would get Au Pairs. One lady actually sent a girl back the next day after arriving because she was really beautiful and she didn’t want her around her husband.

[airyballoon]

“We’ve all heard of au pairs”

Literally never heard that phrase until now.

[triggerfish]

"Somehow it's elitism to try to find affordable child care."

Somehow it's elitism to have the means to afford help from another person to do something for you that most people can/are struggling to do for themselves.

Yeah, it is. Elitist & privileged.

[shoggy]

You’re going to include the fact that they listen to you about your life while you live with them?? As compensation??

[katferguson]

I would not be leaving my country to go take care of someone else’s brats for $195 a week. Highway robbery.

[salome]

I worked for over 50 hours a week, 4 kids (10, 5, 2, 9 months), 2 dogs... i left after 6 months traumatized. American people would NEVER work for that amount. NEVER. The program should be Banned!!!

[CountryCarReviews]

Au pairs: 21st century indentured servants.

[williamerazo]

So rich people can get au pair but low income are cut from it preschool and affordable daycare

[IronWarriorEver]

"Au Pairs, the rich way to traffic humans and exploit them(Some countries only allow women from mid teens to late twenties, you know the implications of these requirements)"

[danimariscal]

I was an au pair for a year in the US and it’s way different from what they tell you to be, many parents are abusive over your time and work; it’s a good experience tho but it requieres a lot of responsibility and flexibility . Also it’s hard to have a voice over your host parents since you feel alone in a different country, culture and people