Hiring Au Pair, Non-EU Family in Zurich

geeboo · #1 27.04.2009, 16:36

Hi There,

I plan to hire a live-in Au Pair to help our family with our small children. We are non-EU citizens in Zurich on a B permit.

I am aware of the information regarding Swiss Au Pair requirements as set out below and have found a few suitable applicants we would like to interview, but we need help with the step-by-step process of getting this done. Who do I call, what forms do I need and what is the process?

I have a contract that was written by a colleague and accepted by the authorities, which we are planning to adapt. Once we have found a suitable person and have an agreed contract, do I visit the Office of Emigration? Then what? What issues have people come across that I should be aware of or look out for?

Thank you in advanced for your help!

Known info:
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Aupair Visa Switzerland - Au Pair Program in Switzerland[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']General Visa Conditions:[/FONT]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']You will receive room and board with a host family in exchange for approximately 25-30 hours of weekly work (housework, baby-sitting, etc.)[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']You have the right to 1 ½ days off per week (at least one Sunday a month) and 4 weeks' vacation per year (5 weeks if you are less than 20 years old).[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']You will be paid between 600 and 700 CHF per month depending on the age, experience and hours of work.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Employee’s share of of social costs "AVS" can be deducted from the salary. This amounts to 7% of the salary (including the payment in nature, so room and board accounted at about 30 sfr per diem), so a total salary of about 1400 sfr. /month, for a cost to the EE of about 100 SFR. (although, many families will bear this cost, but it isn't an obligation).[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Your employer is required to enroll you in a language school within 4 weeks of entering the country, and will cover 50% of these expenses. There is a legal obligation of adjusting the au pair time schedules so that she can participate in language courses.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Tax at source, employee’s contributions to the OAP/II/EO/UI, half of the premiums for health insurance and the total premium for non-occupational accidents may be deducted from the aupair’s pay. The aupair is obligated to pay taxes on income in the year the 19th birthday is attained. [/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The insurance is assumed paid by the au pair, EU insurances will be valid in CH. An accident insurance will be payable by the employer. No additional health insurance will be paid by the employer.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The housewife or houseman does not have the same mother tongue as the au pair.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The guest family’s child or children are under 16 years of age.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The housewife or houseman is present during at least half the au pair’s working hours.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Families and individuals who have no children may not employ au pairs.[/FONT]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Rules for EU citizens seeking AuPair Jobs in Switzerland[/FONT]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']EU nationals are between the ages of 18-30.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']EU nationals do not need a special visa, only a residence permit.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']EU nationals can extend their stay in Switzerland up to 2 years.[/FONT]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Rules for Non-EU citizens seeking AuPair Jobs in Switzerland[/FONT]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Non-EU nationals are between the ages of 18-25[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']All nationalities are accepted, however, families hiring non-EU citizens must work with a licensed Swiss agency to obtain the required visa and work/residence permit. [/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Non-EU candidates can stay for one year only, and the aupair must leave Switzerland at the end of the 1-year contract period.[/FONT]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Permits for au pairs from abroad are issued subject to quota regulations. Limits are placed on the numbers of individuals from specific countries who may come to Switzerland.[/FONT]

Source: http://aupair-visa-switzerland.greataupair.com/

geeboo · #2 27.04.2009, 16:38

Info below without formatting:
Aupair Visa Switzerland - Au Pair Program in Switzerland
General Visa Conditions:

You will receive room and board with a host family in exchange for approximately 25-30 hours of weekly work (housework, baby-sitting, etc.)
You have the right to 1 ½ days off per week (at least one Sunday a month) and 4 weeks' vacation per year (5 weeks if you are less than 20 years old).
You will be paid between 600 and 700 CHF per month depending on the age, experience and hours of work.
Employee’s share of of social costs "AVS" can be deducted from the salary. This amounts to 7% of the salary (including the payment in nature, so room and board accounted at about 30 sfr per diem), so a total salary of about 1400 sfr. /month, for a cost to the EE of about 100 SFR. (although, many families will bear this cost, but it isn't an obligation).
Your employer is required to enroll you in a language school within 4 weeks of entering the country, and will cover 50% of these expenses. There is a legal obligation of adjusting the au pair time schedules so that she can participate in language courses.
Tax at source, employee’s contributions to the OAP/II/EO/UI, half of the premiums for health insurance and the total premium for non-occupational accidents may be deducted from the aupair’s pay. The aupair is obligated to pay taxes on income in the year the 19th birthday is attained.
The insurance is assumed paid by the au pair, EU insurances will be valid in CH. An accident insurance will be payable by the employer. No additional health insurance will be paid by the employer.
The housewife or houseman does not have the same mother tongue as the au pair.
The guest family’s child or children are under 16 years of age.
The housewife or houseman is present during at least half the au pair’s working hours.
Families and individuals who have no children may not employ au pairs.
Rules for EU citizens seeking AuPair Jobs in Switzerland
EU nationals are between the ages of 18-30.
EU nationals do not need a special visa, only a residence permit.
EU nationals can extend their stay in Switzerland up to 2 years.
Rules for Non-EU citizens seeking AuPair Jobs in Switzerland
Non-EU nationals are between the ages of 18-25
All nationalities are accepted, however, families hiring non-EU citizens must work with a licensed Swiss agency to obtain the required visa and work/residence permit.
Non-EU candidates can stay for one year only, and the aupair must leave Switzerland at the end of the 1-year contract period.
Permits for au pairs from abroad are issued subject to quota regulations. Limits are placed on the numbers of individuals from specific countries who may come to Switzerland.

Nathu · #3 27.04.2009, 16:52

And this is what's wrong with Internet Exploder

Roman · #4 27.04.2009, 22:46

I think you may will have problems about the language part of the regulation. As I understand, and with a talk I had a few month ago with the federal office responsible for Au-Pairs (We at awewa planning to get a license as an agency as we have a special language course for Au-Pair conform to the 120 h a year) the main spoken language in the family should be the language of the living part in Switzerland. So for Zürich this would mean German.

Contact Pro Filia, Beckenhofstrasse 16, 8006 Zürich, Tel. 044 363 55 01 for any questions you may have, as this organisation where also involved with the regulations which are now valid.

On an other tread I translated the regulation for Au-Pairs as follow, and it is the seam for all cantons in Switzerland according to there represent authorities.

	Quote:
	Ok I took the time to translate (as good as I could) the information sheet found at the internet site from AVA Zürich. The original information can be found here: http://www.arbeitsbewilligungen.zh.c...aupair_de.html ------------------------------------------ Translation from information sheet Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit (AWA) Zürich In relation to the contract with the EU about Au-Pair workers are a young person which comes to a country to learn a language and for general education in culture. The language of the country is another then the language of the Au-Pair and the Au-Pair will do light works at the household to earn here living expenses. Permission will be given in relation to the foreigner regulation (AuG/Verordung VZAE/ Weisung VEP) Permission in Zürich will come from the AWA. - Permission for Au-Pairs will be given to EU-EFTA citizens and can be given also for person of third counties. - Au-Pairs contracts from a third country (not EU-EFTA) will be have to be proofed by a registered agency with refer to the Arbeitsvermittlungsgesetz AVG. - The age of an Au-Pair from a third country has to be between 18 to 25 years. Au-Pairs form EU 8 Staats between 17 to 30 years. - The host family and the region should be part of an other language then the one from the Au-Pair. In Zürich the language in the host family and the region should be German. - The working hours must not be more then 30 hours a week by one full free day during the week. - At minimum one 2 day free time must be ones a month over a weekend. - The housewife or houseman must be present in the house at minimum 50% of the working time from the Au-Pair. - The work for the Au-Pair must be light work in household and child care and the Au-Pair must receive a salary for it. - The visit of a language course in the local language for the Au-Pair is a must with at least 120 hours a year. The host family must look for the school before permission will be given. - The Au-Pair has the right to live in the family house with her own room - No permission will be given for an Au-Pair to families or single persons without children. - The finance of the family must be in good condition The general working contract regulation are the one for Hauswirtschaftliche Arbeitnehmer im Kanton Zürich. The employer obliged that he/she will take care for he school visits of the Au-Pair and is responsible for any questions and problems with the Au-Pair. The start of the school must be within 4 weeks after arrival of the Au-Pair. The cost for the language course must be payed by the host family. The minimum amount for net salary is regulated in refer of the size of the family and must be between CHF 700.-- to CHF 800.— a month. Should the Au-Pair not eat with the family on free days the money for eating has to be paid to the Au-Pair referring the regulation form the AHV. In time of vacancies the Au-Pair has a right to receive the whole salary including natural salary in CHF referring the regulation from AHV. Au-Pairs must be insured against llness and accidents with refer to the Unfallversicherungsgesetzt. The taxes, social security expenses, 50% of the health insurance and the full amount for non-occupational accident insurance can be taken from the Au-Pairs salary. The tax regulation starts when the Au-Pair is 19 years old. Questions can be asked by Hauswirtschaft Zürich, Florastr. 48, 8008 Zürich or Pro Filia, Beckenhofstr. 16, 8006 Zürich. Au-Pairs from third country can entry only after they received there permission from the Migrationsamtes des Kanton Zürich. Au-Pairs form EU/EFTA countries are under the regulation of Aufenthalt und Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligungen EU/EFTA. Requests for Emploery must go to the Amt für Wirtschaft und Arbeit. With the request the forms „Erklärung zur Einstellung von Au-Pair Angestellten“, „Einreisegesuch“ and „Zusatzblatt für Gastfamilen“ must be send in. ------------------------------------ Aditional information form AWA Zürich - The maximum duration for an Au-Pair contract is 12 month. - For Au-Pairs form EU-EFTA countries the seam regulation as for Au-Pairs from third countries are valid with the exception that they can stay maximum two years

geeboo · #5 29.04.2009, 22:00

Thank you for that feedback, very helpful!

sandraml123 · #6 21.09.2009, 21:48

I am confused (or in denial...)

We are also a non-EU family in Zurich and I have been searching the greataupair website.

A few of the "rules" seem to make it impossible for us to employ an au pair, namely having to be native speakers of the local language and having to be home for half the au pair's working hours.

I am a full time working mother and was hoping to employ someone from an EU country (somehow think that might be easier?), who could speak German and English.

Has anyone been able to overcome these obstacles, or have alternative suggestions?

I noticed a suggestion somewhere about getting a nanny as opposed to an au pair. How would the visa application process differ in that instance? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Longbyt · #7 21.09.2009, 22:02

If you read through the earlier posts in this Thread, the principal thought behind being an au pair is explained. The idea is not that an pair takes over the responsibilty for the child or children all day. Learning the language, which is one of the basic ideas, means listening to and talking with another adult in that tongue.

There are quite a few sites you could look through on this Thread on Child Care.