Our child care system is broken. Too many families are left scrambling to find affordable, quality care. At the same time, our underfunded system doesn’t provide the wages and working conditions that value providers’ skills and experience.
Au pairs in Massachusetts provide in-home child care through State Department exchange programs. While they work up to 45 hours a week, au pairs receive stipends that measure out to $4.35/hour. It’s a blatant disregard of state minimum wage and overtime laws.
That’s why Care That Works is thrilled to see au pairs taking action — and winning! Former and current au pairs — almost 100,000 statewide — recently won a $65.5 million settlement for backpay. The settlement will also ensure au pairs are legally protected under the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights.
Read more about their incredible victory here: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/09/683831264/au-pair-sponsor-agencies-settle-wage-lawsuit-offer-65-5-million-in-back-pay
This victory couldn’t have happened without Boston’s Matahari Women Workers’ Center, which organizes thousands of au pairs and child care providers.
“As a former au pair and professional nanny, I am excited to build off the momentum from this settlement to continue pushing for labor protections for au pairs,” said Tatiane Oliveira, a former au pair from Brazil and Member-Leader at the Boston-based Matahari Women’s Worker Center.
Our care providers deserve a system that works for them, too. The proposed settlement is a great first step in showing that fair wages and fair working conditions for au pairs, nannies, and providers aren’t just big ideas. They’re real first steps in building Care That Works.
If you or someone you know may be entitled for a claim, please view this document for frequently asked questions regarding the settlement: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18bPo8RlZ8lphzAsijH99YO6H0oE5rjBg7bS_8Jv1Z5o/edit?fbclid=IwAR2gbYY_CHvxpcEhRtVyA5vaHOaog3-PAekHdOC0YvASoJWg_OZtYukt7hA
