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An au pair is in charge of taking care of the children and lives within the home of the family. The au pair is provided accommodation and meals and a stipend of spending money. The family gains a loving caretaker for their children and an addition to the family. Expats have both found work, and employed au pairs.

Au Pair in Malaysia

Being an au pair is not common in Malaysia. Few families seek caretakers on popular au pair websites, as they often seek local nannies through recommendations from friends and family.

What the au pair must know

There are not any au pair agencies that specialize in bringing foreign au pairs to Malaysia, meaning you must search for host families on your own, through forums, classifieds websites, or self-serve internet portals.

Typically, families want their au pair to

• Be conversant in English and Bahasa Melayu
• Be between 18-27 years old
• Have a High School diploma or equivalent
• Be able to commit to at least a 6 month placement
• Have at least 6 months child care experience
• Be able to provide 3 references regarding your experience and character

In addition to these requirements, it is common for families to ask for non-smoking, possession of driver's license, responsible or non-drinkers, and for females. Many au pair families prefer native English speakers. Some agencies may also require time spent tutoring.

What the family must know

Again, there are is no standard for au pairing in Malaysia, so the au pair and the family must come to terms of agreement on their own.

Traditionally, the family is expected to welcome the au pair as an important part of the family, ensuring that:

• The au pair must have her own bedroom.
• The au pair will work to a maximum of 40 hours per week with a minimum 2 days off during the week.
• They understand that having an au pair does not mean having a servant. Au pairs may be asked to do some housework as agreed upon in the contract.
• It may be of benefit to register the au pair at the family doctor.
• The family should pay an allowance, with the amount written into the contract.

An excellent place to look for a nanny is on EasyExpat's Malaysia job listings. You can also ask questions and find advice on the Malaysia forums or Expat Network in Malaysia.

Visa

If hired through an agency, the agency usually guides the au pair through the process.

For more information on visas in general, consult the section on "Passport and Visas".