Swedish migration minister vows to investigate au pair system after exploitation reports

Sweden’s migration minister Johan Forssell has promised a full review of the country’s au pair programme following reports of exploitation, including long working hours and threats against foreign workers, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

Forssell told SVT there was “zero tolerance” for abuse of the system, which is intended as a cultural exchange but has faced criticism for enabling underpaid labour. “We want this to be a system that works as intended—a cultural exchange,” he said. “If there are problems, we will get to the bottom of it.”

The Migration Agency has been tasked with verifying that working conditions for au pairs match legal requirements. Under current rules, au pairs in Sweden—typically young foreigners—are permitted to work up to 25 hours per week in childcare and light housework in exchange for a minimum pre-tax monthly wage of 5,920 SEK (around 520 EUR). Many use Sweden’s rut-avdrag tax deduction scheme, which effectively halves the cost for families by subsidising domestic labour.

Critics argue the system has strayed from its original purpose. Ulrika Lorentzi, a welfare researcher at Sweden’s LO trade union confederation, called the current model “not the fine system it was once meant to be,” noting it primarily benefits wealthy families while risking worker exploitation. Norway abolished its au pair programme in 2024 over similar concerns, with Labour Party politician Marte Mjøs Persen stating: “The time when this was genuinely cultural exchange is over. We must call it what it is: underpaid labour.”

SVT’s investigation found Filipino au pairs reporting excessive working hours, sham contracts, and intimidation. The programme remains active across the EU, and Forssell stressed Sweden must comply with bloc-wide directives protecting the system. Stockholm, Danderyd, and Lidingö were named as the municipalities with the highest concentrations of approved au pair permits in recent years.