Au Pairs

[Liam1]

Our neighbours have just got an au pair organised for the summer and a few people from work have as well (plus see a few on this forum).

Does anyone know what the going rate for getting an au pair is? Also what you need to provide (board and lodgings, use of a car). Do they need it to be 3 or 6 months or can it be shorter (summer holidays only).

Looking nervously at the 2½ month summer break next year (this year is just about covered thanks to Grandparents, using all our holidays and a couple of weeks of holiday clubs, but it was the fact that these clubs are so expensive that made me wonder if better and cheaper to organise an au pair). Even the cost of babysitters here adds up if 40hr/week.

When we were in Brussels we looked into it but it was a ridiculous cost such that normal folk cold not afford one and it was just those on EU contracts that had them.

[Roanne]

€250 per month is the normal wage for Au Pairs in Finland, however I'd say that 3 months is a bit short unless they're from a country close by or you offer to pay for their flight (which many hosts do). Hosts are usually expected to pay for their Au Pairs basic travel costs in your town/city and possibly Finnish classes too, so you'd need to take that into consideration too.
I moved to Finland as an Au Pair so feel free to ask any more questions about it!

Roanne
rikkii84952132@gmail.com

[Liam1]

Thanks to you both

I wonder whether we can indeed use an au pair to look after the kids during the school holiday as it may break rules on being full time child minder. Though I'd got the impression that this was one of the main reasons that au pairs are here.

The point that was quoted from migri is open a bit to interpretation - e.g. if we gave no other tasks than to look after the kids 9-4 mon -fri, that would be 36 hours and we would be doing the rest for the other 120 hours per week (or 80 hours that the kids are awake). Guess we could even work from home one day a week to be sure that it is more part time.

What are your experiences? Do you think 30 - 36 hours of looking after the kids in June and August and much less in July is too much? Obviously it is not just migri, but also that it isn't too onrous for the au pair.

Cheers

[allan]

We have planned to have an au pair for a year and hopefully she will arrive in August. However, it was amazing how many au pairs wanted to come for only 2-3 month so this should not be a problem. The official maximum hours is 30 and minimum salary 252e/m in addiiton to free board and lodging. If you are doing things by the book then she will need to have an interesting in Finnish/Swedish lanauge or Finnish culture. However, if you pick an EU national then they can be in Finland for 3 months before registering and you might wish to weigh up paying the au pair a little money up front for insurance from home and avoid the paper work in Finland.

[Vasilis]

Hello! I m new in the forum! I m European and I want to move to Finland as an au pair for up to 6 months! i have found a host family but I would like to know 2-3 things, since I m a bit worried!
Is it compulsory to take finish classes?
I have to pay taxes normally?
Do I have to take other papers, insurrances etc?

Thanx a lot

[allan]

The language classes are supposed to be mandatory but l do not expect anyone will check. Hopefully your host family will pay and it seems to be a good way to meet people once you are here. You host family has obligations for insurance but you should not need to take out anything. As l recall the 252 e is after tax, and if you are only here for 6 months the tax will be minimal. Once again you host family needs to sort this out and dealing with Vero (tax office) will be a challenge for you. have fun!