Cost of childcare 'impacting on working conditions of au pairs'

Migrants Rights Centre Ireland has said that the high cost of childcare has contributed to the bad treatment and working conditions of au pairs here.

Last night, RTÉ broadcast a documentary in which some au pairs described working for families for up to 70 hours a week for as little as €100.

This year, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton declared that au pairs should be treated as employees, but the MRCI said that this is not the case for many.

Aoife Smith, co-ordinator of the MRCI's Domestic Workers Action Group, said that Minister Bruton and the Department of Jobs and Enterprise are not doing enough to improve the working conditions of au pairs.

"The Department need to back this up with action, they need to tackle the au pair industry, she said.

"They need to go after au pair agencies, and au pair agencies that aren't complying with employment legislation should be shut down, or they should be given a chance to become compliant, and then shut down [if they fail]."