Congress has backed calls from the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI) for those employing au pairs in their home to abide by employment legislation, including payment of the Minimum Wage.
This followed a ruling from the Workplace Relations Commission in which a family employing an au pair was found to be in breach of the National Minimum Wage Act and other critical labour legislation.
Congress Equality Officer David Joyce said: "Congress was instrumental in drawing up a Code of Practice* covering au pair workers here in Ireland, which sought to ensure they were removed from the shadow economy and recognise that they have rights like any other workers.
'the Code of Practice led in 2014 to the Irish government formally ratifying the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Domestic Workers Convention which clearly stipulates that ILO member states should 'take measures to ensure that domestic workers enjoy minimum wage coverage, where such coverage exists,'" Mr Joyce said.
'there is no grey area here and those recruiting au pairs to work here must comply with the law and make them fully aware of their rights and entitlements," Mr Joyce he added.
Notes
*Code of Practice for Protecting Persons Employed in Other People's Homes
https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/Good_Workplace_Relations/codes_practice/COP10/
ILO convention Decent Work for Domestic Workers
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C189
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