Employing an au pair in Ireland
Domestic workers’ employment rights (WRC)
Last reviewed
This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Employment law changes, varies by region and depends on your exact arrangement. Figures below are researched from official sources but go out of date — always confirm the current position with the official body linked on this page, or with a qualified labour adviser, before you rely on it.
Domestic workers in a private home — including nannies — have the same employment rights as any other employee under Irish law, backed by a statutory Code of Practice. Confirm details with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and Citizens Information.
Pay floor
€14.15 per hour (20+)
Effective 1 January 2026; sub-minimum rates apply under 20 — €12.74 at 19, €11.32 at 18, €9.91 under 18. Reviewed each January. Verified against Citizens Information and the WRC on 2 September 2026.
What to get right
Written terms
You must give the employee a written statement of core terms early in the employment (Terms of Employment (Information) Act). Use the contract template in the NannyTank app as a starting point.
Minimum wage
The National Minimum Wage applies — €14.15 an hour at 20 and over from 1 January 2026, with sub-minimum rates under 20. There is no au pair exemption: the WRC states that calling an arrangement an “au pair” does not in itself mean the person is not an employee. If you provide meals or accommodation, set amounts are ADDED to pay when working out the hourly rate — €1.27 an hour worked for meals, and €33.42 a week (or €4.77 a day) for accommodation.
Sunday premium
Work on a Sunday attracts a premium unless it is already built into the rate of pay. There is no fixed statutory multiplier — it can be an allowance, a higher rate for the Sunday hours, or paid time off.
Tax & PRSI (PAYE)
Operate PAYE — deduct Income Tax, PRSI and USC and pay employer’s PRSI to Revenue, and give the employee a payslip.
Working time & leave
The Organisation of Working Time Act sets maximum average weekly hours (48), rest breaks, paid annual leave and a Sunday premium.
Official sources
Check these for the current position — they are the authority, this page is not.
An editable contract template for Ireland
NannyTank includes a downloadable employment contract template that references Domestic workers’ employment rights (WRC) — you fill in the agreed pay and hours. Available in the app, along with hours, overtime and claim tracking.
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NannyTank is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is a starting point to help you know what to look into; it may be incomplete or out of date, and it does not account for your specific circumstances. Confirm anything you rely on with the official bodies above or a qualified adviser.