I'm currently an au pair. I am grateful that au pairs have finally shed into the light and this scheme is now about to be closed. I have talked to my host family about how uncomfortable I am doing domestic work for them such as cleaning their floor tiles with my bare hands and cleaning bathroom vents. My host parent answered with "this is normal".
I felt hopeless and mentally stressed because there is nothing I can do but obey. If I do change host families, there is not guarantee I will get better treatment. If I leave, there is no consequence for them. They will just get another au pair who will agree to the arangement.
I do not get all of my meals paid by my host family and I talked to them about it. They said they refuse to pay for all of my meals because that is too much. 98/day is too much for them. They also said I can eat their leftovers anytime.
No one is looking after us au pairs. The newspapers, and for many years, the government has favored host families. Understandable because au pairs are foreigners and we come and go every 2 years. But I am glad the end of this abuse is coming.
I will protest if they want to bring back this scheme.
I felt hopeless and mentally stressed because there is nothing I can do but obey. If I do change host families, there is not guarantee I will get better treatment. If I leave, there is no consequence for them. They will just get another au pair who will agree to the arangement.
I do not get all of my meals paid by my host family and I talked to them about it. They said they refuse to pay for all of my meals because that is too much. 98/day is too much for them. They also said I can eat their leftovers anytime.
No one is looking after us au pairs. The newspapers, and for many years, the government has favored host families. Understandable because au pairs are foreigners and we come and go every 2 years. But I am glad the end of this abuse is coming.
I will protest if they want to bring back this scheme.