Internet Dangers When Finding a Host Family or Au Pair

This warning about the dangers of host families and au pairs getting in touch with each other via the internet is expected to become increasingly important worldwide in the coming period.

Below, we address this important subject in detail.

Dear Host Family, Dear Au Pair,

We would like to use this opportunity to warn you about the way host families and au pairs currently approach each other through the internet and about the risks that may be associated with this.

The government considers these developments to involve risks and wants to make both host families and au pairs aware of the serious dangers that can arise when people independently search for and find a host family or au pair through the internet.

As an umbrella industry organisation, we regularly receive complaints that are directly related to host families and au pairs who found each other through the internet. In many cases, the two parties know very little about each other beforehand. In addition, the information provided may sometimes be incomplete, incorrect, or even deliberately misleading.

The consequences can be far-reaching, particularly for host families. Dutch laws and regulations are clear. We provide an example below.

A host family finds a suitable candidate through the internet — or so it appears. After several telephone calls, emails and other forms of contact, the family decides to invite the au pair to come to the Netherlands.

However, after the au pair arrives, it becomes apparent that the expectations of both parties differ considerably. For example, the au pair may claim that she is required to work too many hours or that she is entitled to more pocket money. The host family, on the other hand, believes that everything was clearly discussed and agreed upon in advance.

The au pair then consults a lawyer and claims that, under the applicable legislation, she is entitled to the statutory minimum wage. By taking this position, the situation may then fall under the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Wet arbeid vreemdelingen – WAV).

As a result, the host family may face a lengthy, unpleasant and costly legal procedure. If the au pair is found to be in the right, the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) may also become involved. If the au pair is legally regarded as an employee, social security contributions and payroll taxes may subsequently become payable.

The host family may have thought that they had found an au pair at a low cost, but could ultimately face very high expenses and serious legal consequences.

The same risks apply to an au pair who finds a host family through the internet. A host family may also provide an incorrect or incomplete representation of the situation. Once the au pair arrives in the Netherlands, reality may sometimes turn out to be very different from what was presented beforehand.

For example, it may become apparent that the room is located in an unheated attic, or that various amounts are deducted from the pocket money for one reason or another. In serious cases, an au pair may even be asked to leave the host family and be left without money. The question then becomes: who will pay for the return journey to the au pair’s home country?

What is a self-match?

A self-match means that a host family and an au pair have found each other independently, for example through the internet, and have subsequently contacted each other directly.

Although a host family or au pair is allowed to find a candidate or host family independently, this does not mean that the rest of the procedure can take place entirely outside the involvement of a recognised au-pair agency.

When a host family and an au pair have found each other independently through the internet, it is therefore very important that the situation is subsequently checked and supervised by a recognised au-pair agency.

The Candidate

A host family can find an au pair independently, and an au pair can find a host family independently. This is referred to as a self-match.

However, the candidate found must still meet all legal requirements. The application and subsequent procedure must therefore be supervised by an authorised and recognised au-pair agency.

The Role of the Recognised Au-Pair Agency

Among other things, the recognised au-pair agency checks whether both the host family and the au pair meet the applicable legal requirements.

This includes examining the relevant laws and regulations and the conditions that apply to the au-pair scheme. The agency can also verify the information provided, screen the parties involved, and ensure that both parties are properly informed in advance about their rights, obligations and responsibilities.

A self-match therefore does not mean that a host family or au pair can complete the entire procedure without professional checks and supervision.

The examples above are only a few of the problems that can arise when a host family and an au pair find each other directly through the internet and make arrangements without professional guidance.

Au-pair agencies that are recognised by the government and registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) have, in addition to their obligation to carefully screen both the host family and the au pair, a duty to provide information and appropriate care and guidance.

Therefore, if you are a host family or an au pair and you have found a match yourself through the internet, we strongly advise you to have the match checked and to have the remainder of the procedure supervised by a recognised au-pair agency.

In this way, potential problems and risks can be prevented as much as possible, and both parties can receive the correct information and guidance in advance.

Please make sure that you are properly informed and exercise caution when directly approaching and selecting a host family or au pair through the internet. Even when you have found a match yourself, professional checks and guidance are extremely important. Good preparation, reliable information and guidance from a recognised au-pair agency can help prevent many problems.