Safety Guide for Au Pairs
You deserve to work in a safe, fair environment. This guide explains your rights, how to spot warning signs, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Your Rights as an Au Pair in South Africa
As an au pair working in a private household in South Africa, you are protected by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and may also fall under the Sectoral Determination for domestic workers. This means:
- ✓Agreed working hours: Your hours should be agreed in writing before you start. You cannot be forced to work excessive overtime without additional pay or time off in lieu.
- ✓Written employment contract: A family must provide you with a written record of your employment terms within the first week. This includes your stipend, hours, duties, and accommodation arrangement (if live-in).
- ✓Leave entitlement: You are entitled to annual leave, sick leave, and family responsibility leave as prescribed by the BCEA.
- ✓Safe accommodation: If you are a live-in au pair, the accommodation provided must be safe, private, and adequately equipped.
- ✓Dignity and respect: Your employer is not permitted to demean, harass, or discriminate against you. The Employment Equity Act protects all employees from unfair treatment.
- ✓Notice period: Both you and the family must give adequate notice (as stipulated in your contract) before ending the arrangement.
Recognising Exploitation vs Normal Expectations
Not every difficult situation is exploitation, but some situations are. Here is how to tell the difference:
Normal Expectations
- • Caring for children and doing light housekeeping related to childcare
- • Following the family's routines and rules for the children
- • Being asked to work your agreed hours
- • Receiving constructive feedback about your work
- • Being asked to take children to school, activities, or appointments
Warning Signs
- • Being required to work significantly beyond your agreed hours with no extra pay
- • Being asked to do heavy domestic work unrelated to childcare (e.g. gardening, washing cars)
- • Verbal abuse, threats, or humiliation from the employer
- • Having your personal documents (ID, passport) taken from you
- • Being refused leave or threatened with dismissal for taking sick leave
- • Not being paid your agreed stipend on time or in full
- • Being isolated from your family, friends, or other support networks
If you recognise warning signs in your situation, you are not obligated to stay. See the section below on what to do if you feel unsafe.
What to Do If You Feel Unsafe
1. Trust your instincts
If something feels wrong, it probably is. You do not need to minimise your concerns or wait until a situation escalates before seeking help.
2. Reach out to someone you trust
Contact a family member, friend, or trusted person outside the household. Let them know your situation and your location. If you are a live-in au pair, know the address of the home before you start.
3. Leave safely
If you need to leave the home urgently, you have the right to do so. Take your personal documents (ID, phone, any essentials) and go to a safe place. Your stipend up to the date you left is still owed to you by law.
4. Contact the authorities or support organisations
Use the emergency contacts listed below. The CCMA can assist with unfair labour disputes. Childline is available 24/7 for anyone in distress.
5. Report the family on AuPairly
Log in to your AuPairly account and report the family profile. Our admin team will investigate and can suspend the family's account to protect other au pairs.
Emergency Contacts
Save these numbers in your phone before you start any placement.
SAPS (Police)
10111
For emergencies and crime — available 24/7
Childline South Africa
116
Free from any phone — counselling and crisis support 24/7
Emergency Services
112
Works from any mobile phone, even without airtime
CCMA (Labour disputes)
0861 16 2262
Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration — free service
People Opposing Women Abuse
011 642 4345
POWA — support for women experiencing abuse or exploitation
Stop Gender Violence
0800 150 150
National helpline — free, confidential, 24/7
Reporting Concerns on AuPairly
Every family profile on AuPairly has a report button (accessible from the three-dot menu). Use it if you experience or witness behaviour that violates our community standards, including:
- → Misrepresentation in the family's profile
- → Harassment or inappropriate messages
- → Requests to work outside agreed terms
- → Any other conduct that made you feel unsafe
All reports are reviewed by our admin team within 48 hours. If the situation is urgent, also contact the emergency services listed above — AuPairly is not an emergency service.