EU ENLARGEMENT AND AU PAIRING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: The experiences and migratory strategies of Slovak au pairs

This article draws upon ethnographic fieldwork on Slovak au pairs in the United Kingdom during 2004 and 2005. Connecting the macro level of regulations (i.e. immigration rules regarding au pairs, the visa regime and access to the labour market) with the micro level of relationships within host households, I examine the migration experiences of Slovak au pairs during the time of EU enlargement. I argue that the abolishment of the UK visas and unlimited access to the UK labour market affected the working conditions of au pairs and enabled Slovak citizens to make au pairing part of larger migration projects. The experience of au pairs demonstrates that when considering the role of migration status in the experience of paid domestic workers, we have to consider the wider context of being a migrant, not merely the particular visa regime.