August 27, 2018
New Report “Shortchanged” Documents Labor Abuses Faced by Au Pairs in the United States
A new report released today reveals the widespread abuse and lack of justice that tens of thousands of au pairs who provide childcare face in the United States, while exposing the flaws of the J-1 guestworker program that recruits them.
The report, titled “Shortchanged: The Big Business Behind the Low Wage J-1 Au Pair Program,” was authored by the International Human Rights Law Clinic (IHRLC) at the American University Washington College of Law, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM), the International Labor Recruitment Working Group (ILRWG), the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), and Matahari Women Workers’ Center.
Every year, tens of thousands of internationally recruited au pairs come to the United States with the promises of a cultural exchange under the J-1 guestworker program, regulated by State Department. Instead, many find wage theft, discrimination and abuse in childcare jobs that pay $4.35 per hour. Often, disreputable sponsor agencies advertise the au pair program as inexpensive childcare or domestic work to host parents, while charging au pairs from around the world thousands of dollars in exchange of an educational experience.
Regulated by the United States State Department as a cultural exchange, the J-1 au pair program lacks adequate government oversight to protect au pairs from labor abuse.
"The au pair program is poorly regulated and falsely advertised as a cultural exchange,” said Elizabeth Mauldin, CDM’s Policy Director and representative of the ILRWG. “High recruitment fees and lack of proper government oversight means that the J-1 au pairs face similar abuse than other guestworkers, including trafficking and exploitation.”
"Shortchanged” highlights the recent successes in winning more protections for au pairs and other domestic workers, including passing Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in multiple states. As a former au pair and professional nanny, I know that child care work is critical, valuable work, and that caregivers deserve recognition, dignity, and strong labor protections like all other workers," said Thaty Oliveira, former au pair, professional nanny, and Matahari Women Workers’ Center Member-Leader.
Report findings include:
Au pairs report being forced to work past their 45 hours per week at tasks prohibited by the au pair program, including cleaning, cooking and gardening.
Emotional abuse is common.
Au pairs tell of being cut off from communication and transportation and even being banned from eating with their host family.
False expectations set by au pair agencies create strained relationships between au pairs and host families that can quickly spiral into abuse.
J-1 au pair program lacks adequate government oversight to protect au pairs from labor abuse.
"Shortchanged: The Big Business Behind the Low Wage J-1 Au Pair Program” can be viewed online at https://fairlaborrecruitment.wordpress.com/report/shortchanged/.