Hello all,

I dont know if this is the right place to post this, if not my apology.

Ok, seems like the all person who has been or just are au pairs, housekeepers or babysitters are not getting the right salarie, or at least not even the minimun. Do somebody know how much is the minimum salarie of a full time house keeper??

I also dont know where to go to ask about that, how many hours or about holidays, but the important is, the minimum salarie.

After been working as a au pair having a very low salarie, i want to be always sure before do or say something, and i really no idea who or where ask.


Thanks in advance.

Hi ,

Did you get an answer to your question?

I will be also looking for a housekeeper ut I have no idea of which salary, I would have to give her.

I am an Au Pair and I have the right salary (the one that the Kanton says you should have). You knew form the beginning what your Au Pair salary would be so you could have choosen another path if you weren't happy with that money. It is true that the salary is not big but this is the Au Pair rule (you get pocket money for your duties). Take it or leave it.

As for housekeeper, I think you should search on the cleaning companies websites (35chf-40chf per hour, depending on the Kanton and I don't know exactly how much you get after taxes) and of course.... on google. I know there are some links that takes you housekeeper salaries BUT bear in mind that an agency can't give you every day a FT job (maybe a housekeeper could say more about this) and if you want to work alone , then you have to search for families and try to have a regular schedule with them (usually it is between 25chf-30chf per hour, it depends if you are experienced and have good references).

Good luck!

In the Sticky at the top of this section there is a Wages Calculator which might give you some ideas.

As PD says (sort of, ) an au pair and a housekeeper have two different jobs and the "set up" is quite different as are the duties, salary, hours, etc.

If the family is asking you to be a housekeeper but paying you as an au pair then that is wrong.

What do you mean ''sort of''? . I was talking about the Au Pair salary.
And of course if someone is hiring you as a housekeeper but they pay you as an au pair , yeap, it is wrong.

Well, I mean you didn't actually write that the two were different. But it was implied in your post.

Au pair i have no idea how much is the minimun, but the most of the families paid too low!!!

As a housekeeper the family pay me the minimun for a full time job, but im doing 8 hours more than full time. Im working 50 hours a week.

Im about to leave!! I have been very stress.

Housekeeper salary, minimun for 43 hours weekly 3800 chf brutto. I think nobody pay that.

An Au pair is not paid very well as normally accomodation, perhaps use of a car for free is thrown in. An Au pair's salary usually reflects the disposable income of somebody that has to pay their own bills.

A housekeeper on the other hand is a full time role which includes a level of responsibility. However, the salary for a housekeeper will depend normally if it is live in or live out. A live in housekeeper will earn significantly less that a live out housekeeper.

These statements do not imply an au pair has no responsibility as usually they are entrusted with the most valuable things in life - namely your children. However it is similar to a secretary and a PA, a secretary normally recieves instructions and carries them out, a PA may be expected to deputise for his/her boss in their absence, therefore role expectations are very different.

My first job in switzerland was as an au pair. I was looking after 5 kids, it suppoused that i have to do "light" house cleaning, but while my boss was sitting i was doing EVERY SINGLE THING IN THE HOUSE. Ironing, washing clothes, cleaning and tidy up. I was working full time, and the most of the days the made me work more hours.

My salary was just 700 Chf monthly, i was living with them, but the au pair who was before me was earning just 800 Chf.

After that experience (im going to save more BAD details for this family) i always check very well the contract, and i speak very clearly and this is what i recommend to everybody who want to work as an au pair, talk about all and let everything clear!!!!

Fairy,

I couldn't agree more with your comments. However the fact you did not clarify your expectations with those of the family you worked for is solely down to you. What they saw as light duties:

You obviously did not, therefore you should have asked the questions before you accepted the contract. As for the difference in salary between you and your predecesor, perhaps she was a better negotiater than you.

From experience, staff who accept low offers only have themselves to blame, you obviouly felt that 700 per month was acceptable when you accepted the contract, if you feel it is not now then you are within your rights to look for something better paid, although this may not mean better overall.

In terms of

The only floor to a minimum salary is what you as an individual is prepared to accept. Only you can set this based upon your own expectations. Personally I would not or could not work for 700 per month, but there again I am not an Au pair

I am completly agree with all of what you are saying....i accept it with all the consecuences. But as i told, it was my first job, and i never being here before, so i had no idea how much is the salarie, or how much its the life cost here. I took it because it was a chance for me to start......but i changed it quiet soon, ive been working with them only 4 months.

About the duties ive been doing there, i did not have any chance to say no when i did not have other work, or another place to stay.

She interviewed me, and she ask about if i can help clean, and of course i can help.....but its very different help than do everything.

Salary Salary Salary

Actually there are regulations for each canton for au pairs and e.g. in Zurich you need a permit to hire an au pair.
In Zurich, a minimum salary is CHF 700.- to CHF 800.- / month, given that the au pair gets food and accommodation.

There are a bunch more regulations that need to be followed, e.g. you may only work 30 hours per week and have at least one free day per week.

On the following website, you can download an information sheet for au-pairs and get other information. Some parts are only available in English however.
http://www.awa.zh.ch/internet/volksw...gestellte.html