Conditions of having a Danish au pair mediated by the Danish Church in Brussels

The Danish Church in Brussels mediate between youth in Denmark and families in the Brussels area.

It is necessary to be registered in the Church as a seeking family. In order to be registered one or more from your family need to come to the Youth Advisors office at the Church for an interview.

For appointments contact:
The Youth Advisor, e-mail: dankirke@dankirke.be 
phone: 02 660 93 34
(Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Registration fee: 15 €
Mediation fee: 70 €

Here you find a description of conditions relating to contact between a family, a young au pair and the Danish Church.

The young Danes usually stay in Belgium for one academic year. They have finished at school and want to spend a year working abroad before continuing their education, under conditions established by the European Council (in Strasbourg 24/11/1969). In Denmark it is easier for students to begin higher education having spent time abroad. Therefore their stay here is a preparation for study.

It is underlined that there is no employer-employee relationship. The young au pairs are neither students nor workers: their status is between the two.

Since it is the first time that the young person has left Denmark, the host family must be prepared to help and support them during the early days.

The working hours of the young person must not be more than 20 per week (according to Belgian law). Above that some hours of babysitting are allowed (2 or 3 times a week) where necessary.

The young person must have at least one weekend in two off, or two weekends a month (both Saturday and Sunday).

They must also be given free time to follow language courses. Where the au pair is given only the minimum pocket money, language course fees are payable by the host family.
The host family is also responsible for paying the return journey of the young person to Denmark at the end of their stay.
Our help in linking up a family with a Danish young person is conditional on acceptance of these conditions.

The young Dane is entitled to Danish medical cover and brings with her/him a European Health Insurance Card which gives her/him the same right of reimbursement as a young Belgian has through the Mutuelle. Reimbursement of claims is made by Denmark.

If the young person wishes to enjoy the same level of cover as they have in Denmark, they are able to take out a supplementary assurance themselves.
They also carry civil responsibility and accident cover.

The only insurance which the host family requires is a Belgian "Gens de Maison" policy which affords cover in the effect of an accident at home. The host family must also undertake the registration of the au pair with the Belgian authorities, and ensure that they have the correct papers.

A trial period of two weeks allows for the planning of the work of the young person for family, and of their duties to the au pair. At the end of the trial period either party can decide against continuing their relationship.

Listed below are some of the matters which should be settled early and then respected if the stay is to work well:

·       Agreement on length of stay;
·       Describing and timetabling the au pair's duties  (max 20 hours per week)
·       Baby-sitting (timetable and requirements);
·       Pocket money on the amount of minimum 450 € per month
·       Language courses
·       Payment of return journey home to Denmark at end of au pair's stay
·       Period of notice to be given in case of early ending to au pair's stay
·       Agreement about weekends
·       Agreement about free time
·       Agreement about holidays

Getting used to live together isn't always easy for the au pair and the host family. We hope that with patience from both sides it will work out and be a good experience. The Danish Church isn't responsible for an early ending of the stay. But if you need our help we will do our best to advise you.

Please transfer the mediation fee to our account in KBC (736-0018837-83) after the arrival of the au pair and no later than the ending of the trial period.

 

There are several ways of getting a Danish au pair.
One is to place an advert on our web site, the cost is 15 €.

An other is to be in the register in The Danish Church as a family looking for an au pair. In order to be registered you have to come here in the office for a short meeting where I get an impression of you as a family and we go over the practical details concerning having an au pair, e.g. insurance, medical coverage, pocket money, procedure, etc.

A third possibility is to get in contact with the young person on the web. There are several places to search e.g. www.jobindex.dk ; www.aupair-world.net/index.php

And finally the fourth, which is to know someone who knows someone.