Families wishing to employ an au pair will soon only be able to do so through an approved agency when new laws come into affect, the immigration service said on Monday.

At the moment the IND has a covenant with 20 agencies, but seven have been put under extra supervision because of failings. One is no longer allowed to mediate.
‘It is extremely important we know where these girls are and that they are being well looked after,’ IND director Rob van Lint is quoted as saying by Nos television. ‘This is a vulnerable group of girls.’
Au pairs are allowed to do up to 30 hours light household work a week. ‘But they are not supposed to be used as household slaves,’ Van Lint said.
Some 1,500 au pairs come to the Netherlands from outside the EU every year. It is not clear if the new legislation applies to all au pairs or just those from outside Europe.