The gross underpayment and mistreatment of the au pair worker has emerged in recent years as a significant issue in Irish society. The lack of affordable and accessible childcare is driving the demand for flexible and cheap labour, which has led to increased numbers of au pairs being recruited as childminders and domestic workers. This has created a ‘grey area’ where workers are experiencing exploitation and are unaware they have rights and where employers are not aware they have responsibilities under Irish labour law.
