admin posted on November 10, 2009 16:44
A new association which promises to implement and enforce new guidelines for au pair agencies is set to shake up the country’s childcare industry.
The New Zealand Au Pair Association (NZAPA) was created to protect both au pairs and the host families they work for, in-line with international regulations, says its president Cecilia Robinson.
Robinson who runs an agency herself, Au Pair Link, says it was important to have a set of regulations where local agencies could work together to raise industry standards.
“The role of the NZAPA is to ensure that basic rules are complied with,” says Robsinson. “This means things like guaranteeing host families are paying their au pair the minimum wage and addressing the concerns of both parties.”