The Council of Europe has drawn up a model contract for Au Pairs:
Click here for contract.
The aim of the European Agreement on Au pair placement is to specify the rights and obligations of the Au Pair and the receiving family. An Au Pair receives the benefits entitled within the territory in the event of sickness, maternity or accident.
Au Pair Placement is the temporary reception by families, in exchange for certain services, of young foreigners who come to improve their linguistic and possibly professional knowledge as well as their general culture by acquiring a better knowledge of the country where they are received.
Au Pairs belong neither to the student category nor to the worker category but to a special category which has features of both, and that therefore it is useful to make appropriate arrangements for them.
Au pair Placement constitutes in member States an important social problem with legal, moral, cultural and economic implications, which transcends national boundaries and thereby takes on a European complexion.
Considering that, it is necessary to give Au Pairs adequate social protection inspired by the principles laid down in the European Social Charter.
European Agreement on "Au Pair" Placement has been signed by the following countries:
Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Spain, Switzerland.
Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is the oldest European organisation. Based in Strasbourg, France, it has 40 member countries and covers every policy area except defence. It is entirely separate from the European Union.