Hungarianaupairagency.com
10,000 plus---
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Hungarian Au Pair Agency introduces applicants mainly from Hungary, but also from Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia and Poland. Traditionally an Au Pair placement was an arrangement whereby a young, unmarried person without dependants comes to the UK for the purpose of learning the English language and lives for a time with an English speaking family and this still applies to applicants from non-EU states. Applicants from the EU have no restrictions imposed on them and are allowed to undertake any work, including Au Pair placements. As Au Pairs, they do not need to register under the Workers Registration scheme, but, if they are undertake any extra work other than au pair work (including cleaning, bar work etc.) they will need to register with the Home Office.
EU Applicants can be any age unless they are from Romania or Bulgaria where they must be between the ages of 17 to 27 years. All applicants have a minimum of a secondary level of education and at least a good basic knowledge of English. The duration of stay is between two months to two years, but naturally varies for each applicant. EU applicants have no time limits imposed on them and are allowed to stay indefinitely. Males are also allowed to take up Au Pair positions and have proved very successful!
Information About Au Pairs
Au Pairs are not qualified domestics and therefore high standards of work should not be expected, but they are generally helpful and willing to learn. Some may need help for the first few days until they become familiar with your routines. It is recommended that the family write down a list of things they require the Au Pair to do so there are no misunderstandings about the duties expected and the hours required. Like an older sibling, the Au Pair is included in all family activities, unlike an 'employee' or a 'servant' who may be excluded from family meals, holiday celebrations and other activities. The Au Pair should be treated as a member of the family, taking their meals with the family or children.
The Au Pair should have their own bedroom with a bed, wardrobe and a desk or table for studying and possibly a radio or television. Under no circumstances should the Au Pair be made to share a bedroom with children. Help should be offered to the Au Pair, if required, with their English language studies.
Hours, Duties and Pay
Non- EU applicants can work for a maximum of 25 hours per week (5 hours per day, Monday to Friday) and baby-sit on two occasions per week. Baby-sitting means looking after children after they have been put to bed in the evening. The baby-sitting facility may be used twice a week if required but not on two consecutive evenings e.g. Friday and Saturday.
EU applicants are allowed to work longer hours than 25 hours and are happy to accept mothers help positions. Please call agency for recommend hours and pay
All Au Pairs are entitled to two full free days per week, preferably weekends. The current recommended minimum pay (known as pocket money) is £70.00 - £75 per week for 25 hours, payable one week after arrival. Extra hours are calculated at a rate of £2.50 per hour. If families require a driver or have 3 or more children, it is suggested that the family may consider paying slightly more, as the work involved is more! This will encourage the Au Pair to stay with their family and not to find themselves another position with fewer children and the same basic pay!
Au Pair duties may include looking after children, taking and collecting them from school, assisting them with homework and caring for them when necessary, everyday housework, laundry and basic cooking. They should not be expected to cook full meals for all the family, though help in the kitchen (peeling vegetables, etc.) is quite acceptable. They should not be asked to do heavy housework e.g. cleaning windows, scrubbing carpets, etc. If doing ironing, it is recommended that they do this when there are no young children around, as it is extremely difficult for the Au Pair to divide their attention between ironing and the needs of young children. Housework should be a shared responsibility between the Au Pair and the family and the Au Pair should not be expected to do all the housework on their own.
Driving
If the family require the Au Pair to drive, then they must take the time to "train" the Au Pair to drive in England before allowing them alone in the vehicle. A few lessons from a qualified instructor would be helpful, as Au Pairs need to adjust to driving on the 'other side' of the road!
Non EU Au Pairs are allowed to drive for one year on their local or International License after which they must take a British driving test should they wish to continue driving. EU Nationals who hold a valid Community licence and are visiting Great Britain can drive any vehicle for as long as their licence remains valid. The appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle must be shown on the licence.
All vehicle running costs e.g. petrol, insurance etc. must be paid for by the family and families cannot expect an Au Pair to pay for any damage caused to vehicles. Please ensure that your insurance covers this possibility. Families may consider allowing the Au Pair to use the vehicle for their own use i.e. getting to language classes. Au Pair who drive are taking on extra responsibility and expect to be re-numerated for this, families should pay £5 - £10 extra pay per week.
English Classes
Families should accommodate their Au Pairs' schedule for attending English classes for foreign students suited to their ability. Many local authorities run courses throughout the year at the local Adult Education centres, as do many local colleges. Au Pairs will expect to attend classes at least twice a week but this should be at a time mutually convenient for both the family and the Au Pair, either daytime or evening classes.
It is important to note that the cost of English language tuition has risen dramatically over the past few years and can cost between £200 - £350 per term. Whilst it is not recommended that families pay for the classes initially, they may wish to contribute towards lessons after their Au Pair has been with them for a period of time. Otherwise, assistance towards schooling may be offered in the form of a loan, which should be deducted weekly from the Au Pairs' pay. Families should make enquiries regarding schools before the Au Pair arrives and should help them to enroll. If classes are more than three miles away, the family should pay for a monthly bus pass for their Au Pair. Classes are usually held at the same time as the school term, so holidays usually coincide.
Travel
Au Pairs are responsible for their traveling expenses to and from their home country. If host families have been satisfied with the service provided by their Au Pair and they have stayed for the duration requested, families may consider paying for the return journey home. This is a nice gesture by the families though they are not obliged to do so.
Holidays
Bank Holidays should be allowed and it is usual to pay the Au Pair for this. If the Au Pair is required to work on a Bank Holiday, then either extra pay or time off in lieu should be allowed. One weeks'paid vacation is usually allowed after six months' stay. Many Au Pairs would like to return home for the Christmas season, but this should be discussed between the Au Pair and the family. If they have been with the family less than 6 months, this will be an unpaid vacation. Alternatively, you can agree to pay the Au Pair for the Christmas holiday but then she will not be entitled to a holiday after the 6 month period. Should the family go on holiday and do not take their Au Pair with them, it is still the families' responsibility to accommodate the Au Pair by providing full board and paying the full amount whilst they are away. If they do take the Au Pair with them, the family are responsible for all costs incurred. An Au Pair must not be left in an empty house without food or heating. This also applies during the day when the families are out at work.
Telephone and the Internet
A note of advice regarding the use of telephones and the Internet; it may be a nice gesture to allow the Au Pair to telephone home perhaps once a month for a few minutes. Internet use is at the families' discretion. Families should make clear what is allowed regarding use of the telephone and Internet when the Au Pair first arrives. Families who have Au Pairs who are home alone for much of the day may consider having international call barring installed as occasionally large telephone bills have been received by families, although this has only occurred on very few occasions. Once the Au Pair has left the family, it is virtually impossible to recover any costs. The Agency cannot be held responsible for any such costs. Families may encourage Au Pairs to purchase phone cards to use, which are widely available from Post Offices and Newsagents. For cheap rate calls abroad please see: www.niftylist.co.uk or www.skype.com
A Few Points to Note
Most Au Pairs who come to the U.K. are away from home for the first time and are adjusting to a new language, a new environment and customs which may be totally different to that which they are used to. They may feel homesick at first! Families should be understanding during this period and should try to help the Au Pair adjust to their new surroundings. Should problems persist, the family should contact the Agency for further assistance. Families should be aware that Au Pairs come to the U.K. to learn English and should be willing to help by correcting mistakes in speech. If families speak a second language, they must make the effort to speak English whilst the Au Pair is there, as it is not unknown for an Au Pair to leave a family if they are not involved in an English speaking environment.
How to Proceed
If you would like to proceed with arrangements for an Au Pair placement, please complete the on-line Family Application Form and submit it to the Agency. Once received, the Agency will provide information, references, doctor's certificate, photos, etc. of suitable candidates for the position.
If you would prefer to work off-line on the Application Form, please click on Printable Documents.
Once a suitable candidate has been selected, the Agency will organise a telephone call from the family to the applicant, as an initial introduction, to casually test the Au Pair's English ability and to ask any questions they may have. Thereafter, if both the family and the applicant are willing to proceed with the placement, the family will need to send either a letter of invitation (for Visa purposes) if the applicant is from a non-EU country. If the Au Pair is from an EU country, then a job offer letter needs to be sent. Assistance will be provided regarding the contents of the letters. The full placement fee should be enclosed with the letter, as the Agency cannot proceed with organising visas or travel arrangements until this has been received. If the applicant is required to obtain a visa prior to entry to the UK, they will then attend the Embassy in their home country. The next stage is to initiate travel arrangements, and the Agency will inform the family accordingly as to time and place of arrival of the Au Pair. Families must meet the Au Pair upon arrival. If this is not possible, a taxi or alternative arrangement must be made, the family being responsible for the costs.
Families should be aware that there is a shortage of Au Pairs between March and June and should try to avoid changing during this period. Non EU applicants are granted a visa for a maximum of two years, which is stamped into their passport at the British Embassy in their home country. Once the two years has elapsed, they are no longer allowed to return to the UK again as Au Pairs. The Au Pair visa is granted only one time and for a maximum period of two years. It is not renewable. They no longer need to obtain a Certificate of Registration (Green Card). EU member applicants have no restrictions and can travel freely to the UK.
The family is not required to pay National Insurance contributions or Council Tax for the Au Pair. No claims for any benefits can be made from the DSS but treatment under the National Health Service is available in cases of accident or illness. The family should register the Au Pair with their own doctor or medical practice as soon as convenient. The Au Pair remains responsible for the cost of dental or eye treatment and prescriptions.
Copyright Hungarian Au Pair Agency © 2001 - 2007