Au Pair Program Eyed for Wage, Hour Revamp in New US Proposal

The US State Department aims to modernize the au pair program by overhauling compensation rules, updating working hour structures, and strengthening other protections for foreign exchange workers employed in child care.

Proposed regulations covering the au pair program (RIN:1400-AF12) released Friday also outline a process for re-matching with new host families.

The State Department has taken the position that a national compensation standard preempting state law was necessary for the au pair program, backing that approach as recently as 2021. That preemption question has recently been a major source of contention between worker advocates and industry groups that have sought ...