New Zealand au pair agencies say they will go under unless the government gives them an exemption to bring in overseas workers, which they say allows essential employees like nurses and doctors to do their jobs.
Three agencies normally bring in about 1000 live-in childcare workers a year, mainly from Europe. But in 2020 they have not been able to bring a single worker in since March.
Au pairs live in a family's home and provide childcare in exchange for board and a weekly cash allowance. They are often young people who travel around New Zealand after their contracts end.
Au Pair Link chief executive Morgan Holyoake told Checkpoint she has tried to recruit locally, but with little success.
