Exploiting au pairs an appalling feature of Irish life

I was appalled to read your feature on ‘How to find a great au pair’ (Helen O’Callaghan, February 25). 

Since when did it become culturally acceptable in Ireland to pay a person €130 a week for full-time flexible childcare, housekeeping and cleaning duties? This equates to just €3.25 per hour.

The minimum wage in Ireland is €8.65. Even with the addition of room and board at the maximum deductible rate of €54.13, the hourly wage would be a mere €4.60. I am shocked to see a national newspaper advising its readers to pay their employees just over half the minimum wage. Families need to know that it’s against the law.