* Au pairs are entitled to paid holidays. For more information please contact the National Directorate of Labour at www.adir.dk

It is important to know about the Holiday or what is known in the Philippines as vacation leave. Both you the au pair and the host family will agree what model you would follow.

As an au pair in Denmark you are also entitled to holiday:

• 5 weeks of paid holiday every year.
• Holiday period starts May 1-September 30 every year

According the National Directorate of Labour there are 2 holiday models you and your Host can choose in your au pair stay but if you haven’t chosen one then the Model1 or the Danish Holiday Act will apply.

Here’s a Description of The 2 Holiday Models

1. The Danish Holiday Act in general
In the Holiday Act the holiday year is staggered in relation to the qualification year.
That means that the holiday you earn e.g. during the 2007 calendar year is to be taken
during the holiday year starting on 1 May 2008 and ending on 30 April 2009.

You earn the right to take five weeks’ paid holiday annually.

If you work at a maximum five days a week, you earn the right to 25 days of holiday annually (2.08 days of holiday
for each month of employment). If you work more than five days a week, you earn the
right to 30 days of holiday annually (2.5 days of holiday for each month of employment).
According to the Holiday Act you are therefore entitled to paid holiday only when you
have earned the holiday. You are always entitled to take up to five weeks’ holiday per
holiday year, but you cannot demand that your host family pay the days of holiday if
you have not earned the holiday.
You are entitled to take up to 15 days of holiday as a consecutive period during the
period from 1 May to 30 September. Generally other days of holiday should be taken as
a consecutive period of at least five days. Your host family must make allowance for
your wish with regard to the timing of the holiday, but in the final instance your host
family decides when you can take your holiday during your employment.
You are entitled to take paid holiday. The pay during holiday is your ordinary regular
pay at the time of the holiday. To this amount is added the value of any fringe benefits
which are not available to you during the holiday. Your host family must also pay a
holiday supplement of a total of 1 per cent of your pay during the qualification year. The
value of board and lodging is calculated on the basis of the rates fixed by the National
Tax Board for the year in question.
As a main rule you must take your holiday during the holiday year. If you do not, your
host family must as a main rule pay the holiday with pay not taken and the holiday
supplement to the Labour Market Holiday Fund. In certain situations the holiday pay
can be paid out to you even though the holiday has not been taken. You can read more
about those rules on the website of the National Directorate of Labour www.adir.dk under
“Ferie” or “Holiday”. Please note that the website is under construction.
As an au pair you are also entitled to holiday

Upon Termination of au pair employment

When you terminate your employment, your host family must pay holiday allowance
for the days of holiday you have not taken upon termination. In general, your holiday
allowance is calculated at 12 ½ per cent of your taxable pay and fringe benefits
earned during the qualification year. The value of fringe benefits is calculated on the
basis of the rates fixed by the National Tax Board for the year in question. As a general
rule your host family must pay the holiday allowance to FerieKonto, but if you are no
longer going to work in Denmark, your host family can pay the amount direct to you
upon termination of your employment.

2. Model 2 – Special holiday rules in general

In the special holiday rules set out in the Danish Act Respecting Certain Conditions
of Employment in Agriculture, etc. both the qualification period and the holiday
period follow the employment period. That means that you are entitled to paid holiday
already during your first year of employment. You are entitled to take five weeks’
paid holiday annually.

If you work at a maximum five days a week, you are entitled
to take 25 days of holiday annually (2.08 days of holiday for each month of employment).
If you work six days a week you are entitled to take 30 days of holiday annually
(2.5 days of holiday for each month of employment).
You are entitled to take at least two fifths of your holiday as a consecutive period
during the period from 1 May to 30 September if your employment period allows
this. Any remaining holiday can be taken as a period that is split up or as a consecutive
period according to your wishes. Your host family must as far as possible make
allowance for your wishes regarding the timing of the holiday.
You take your holiday with full pay including board-wages if board-wages are part
of your pay. Your host family must also pay a holiday supplement of totally 1 per
cent of your total pay. The value of your board is calculated on the basis of the rates
fixed by the National Tax Board for the year in question.
Your host family must as far as possible ensure that you take your holiday before
the expiry of your employment period. Where this is not possible on account of
sickness or injury, your host family must instead pay you wages and the tax value of
your board and the holiday supplement for every day of holiday lost.

Please note the following special conditions
You are automatically covered by model 1. If you and your host family wish to employ
model 2, you must agree in writing that you will not follow the rules of the Danish
Holiday Act, but that you will instead follow the special holiday rules set out in
the Danish Act Respecting Certain Conditions of Employment in Agriculture, etc.
This means, in other words, that in the absence of an agreement you are covered by
model 1.
Irrespective of whether you choose model 1 or model 2, you are not permitted to
work during your holiday.

You can download the pamphlet pdf file by clicking the link Au pair you are also entitled to holiday

Or you can browse below the information below.