http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finnish tax authorities regard au pairs as illegal labour/1101981470788
The Finnish tax authorities regard as many as hundreds of foreign au pairs working in Finnish families as illicit labour. The problem is that Finland has not ratified the European Agreement on Au Pairs by the European Council, which stipulates that au pairs do not have to pay taxes.
Consequently, the Finnish authorities are adamant demanding that even au pairs have to acquire a tax card and pay taxes.
Moreover, the tax authorities are not willing to turn a blind eye to the fringe benefits of au pairs, including accommodation, food, language courses, and bus passes. All these make the hiring of an au pair so expensive that in many cases it is not sensible any more.
Strange enough, even if an au pair paid taxes she would not have Finnish social security coverage. Typically, an au pair earns less than EUR 930 per month, which is not enough for her to be eligible for residence-based social security benefits.
According to the European Council and the Finnish Directorate of Immigration, au pairs are in the country primarily hoping to improve their linguistic knowledge as well as their general grasp of the culture, and not in order to work. Consequently, all they need is a residence permit - not a work permit.
"We observe the European Agreement on Au Pairs, which even Finland has signed. Even though the agreement has not been ratified, we have a permanent protocol based on the rules of this agreement", says Senior Inspector Carita Meriläinen of the Directorate of Immigration.
In order to be granted a residence permit, an au pair from outside the EU has to prove that she has studied either Finnish or Swedish, is interested in Finnish culture, and intends to attend a language class.
While a few hours' work as a nanny is acceptable, Meriläinen notes that an au pair must not work full-time.
The transition period restricting the free movement of labour, which applies to the new member countries having joined the European Union in 2004, does not apply to au pairs.
Senior Officer Päivi Kantanen of the Finnish Ministry of Labour notes that the position of an au pair is stipulated by Finland's Employment Contracts Act, provided that the employment criteria are met.
When hiring an au pair, certain obligations relating to working hours, annual holidays, and payment of salaries are to be complied with.
According to the estimates of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Uusimaa, a reasonable minimum salary for an au pair working 30 hours a week would be EUR 940 per month. Including the employer charges, the total salary would be close to EUR 1,300 per month.
The total number of au pairs in Finland is difficult to estimate, but apparently it is growing.
"It is easy to notice that internationalisation has progressed and borders have become lower", notes EURES adviser Tuula Kinnunen of Helsinki's Kluuvi employment office.
An au pair is a 17-to-30 year-old foreign person who lives in a family and studies a foreign language and culture. An au pair can do domestic work including child care for up to 30 hours a week at the most. Apart from pocket money, an au pair is entitled to accommodation, food, a language course, and bus tickets.
The Finnish tax authorities regard as many as hundreds of foreign au pairs working in Finnish families as illicit labour. The problem is that Finland has not ratified the European Agreement on Au Pairs by the European Council, which stipulates that au pairs do not have to pay taxes.
Consequently, the Finnish authorities are adamant demanding that even au pairs have to acquire a tax card and pay taxes.
Moreover, the tax authorities are not willing to turn a blind eye to the fringe benefits of au pairs, including accommodation, food, language courses, and bus passes. All these make the hiring of an au pair so expensive that in many cases it is not sensible any more.
Strange enough, even if an au pair paid taxes she would not have Finnish social security coverage. Typically, an au pair earns less than EUR 930 per month, which is not enough for her to be eligible for residence-based social security benefits.
According to the European Council and the Finnish Directorate of Immigration, au pairs are in the country primarily hoping to improve their linguistic knowledge as well as their general grasp of the culture, and not in order to work. Consequently, all they need is a residence permit - not a work permit.
"We observe the European Agreement on Au Pairs, which even Finland has signed. Even though the agreement has not been ratified, we have a permanent protocol based on the rules of this agreement", says Senior Inspector Carita Meriläinen of the Directorate of Immigration.
In order to be granted a residence permit, an au pair from outside the EU has to prove that she has studied either Finnish or Swedish, is interested in Finnish culture, and intends to attend a language class.
While a few hours' work as a nanny is acceptable, Meriläinen notes that an au pair must not work full-time.
The transition period restricting the free movement of labour, which applies to the new member countries having joined the European Union in 2004, does not apply to au pairs.
Senior Officer Päivi Kantanen of the Finnish Ministry of Labour notes that the position of an au pair is stipulated by Finland's Employment Contracts Act, provided that the employment criteria are met.
When hiring an au pair, certain obligations relating to working hours, annual holidays, and payment of salaries are to be complied with.
According to the estimates of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Uusimaa, a reasonable minimum salary for an au pair working 30 hours a week would be EUR 940 per month. Including the employer charges, the total salary would be close to EUR 1,300 per month.
The total number of au pairs in Finland is difficult to estimate, but apparently it is growing.
"It is easy to notice that internationalisation has progressed and borders have become lower", notes EURES adviser Tuula Kinnunen of Helsinki's Kluuvi employment office.
An au pair is a 17-to-30 year-old foreign person who lives in a family and studies a foreign language and culture. An au pair can do domestic work including child care for up to 30 hours a week at the most. Apart from pocket money, an au pair is entitled to accommodation, food, a language course, and bus tickets.
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Vanhimmat
wanha
...ja toisessa keskustelussa kyseltiin silti linkkia tahan artikkeliin.
Siis mikä on todellinen tilanne tällä hetkellä? Millä tavalla au pairin palkka lasketaan kun on täysylläpito jos käyttää samoja summia kun esim työsuhdeasunnossa ja ruokaedussa työpaikalla niin siinähän tulee tilanne että au pair joutuu maksamaan isäntäperheelle=)