Reply to Proposed DC legislation re: domestic workers

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[quote=Anonymous]I would point blank ask them what their position is on how au pairs fit into this proposed legislation. I would tell them that the au pair program is a special federally regulated program that brings young foreigners with an interest in childcare and learning English and more about American culture to the U.S. and that it brings huge vendors to both host families and the au pairs.

I would tell them that au pairs DO NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING. The host families provide full room and board, transportation, education, cell service, health insurance, etc.

The federal regulations already protect au pairs.

And finally, applying minimum wage to au pairs would make the program unaffordable for most participant families because they already pay for all of the au pair’s expenses either directly or through agency fees.

The weekly stipend is supposed to be spending money because their expenses are all covered.

In Massachusetts similar legislation has created a mass exodus from the program. Let’s not be like Massachusetts. Let’s be like NY who carved out au pairs in an exception to the regulation.

DC already has some of the highest cost childcare in the country and the au pair program fills a nice gap for working families who need flexible childcare (one hour in the morning and several after school) that nannies and babysitters are unwilling to fill. If not the au pair program, then what would your council member recommend for childcare for dual working parents with school aged children?[/quote]

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