Au Pair Wage, Hour Overhaul Public Comment Period Extended

The US State Department is extending the public comment period through Jan. 28 for a proposed overhaul of wage and hour requirements for its au pair program.

The proposal released in October (RIN:1400-AF12) also strengthens protections for participants in the program, which allows J-1 cultural exchange visa holders under 27 to provide child care to host families in the US.

The State Department had previously backed a national wage standard that preempts state law. But the proposed regulations would require that pay be based on the highest of applicable federal, state, or local wage rules where a host ...