Minister ‘concerned’about au pair rights

Up to 20,000 au pairs working in Irish family homes are at risk of “exploitation” because their placements are failing to be properly regulated.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she is concerned that young foreign students are being forced to take on extra responsibilities far above what they initially agreed.

During the leaders’ questions debate, Fianna Fáil children’s spokeswoman Anne Rabbitte said that despite the “great experience” an au pair placement can provide, thousands of young people coming to this country “are open to exploitation”.