In Switzerland, only women from the EU and EFTA countries, the USA, Australia and New Zealand can obtain permits of stay. For women from other countries such as Eastern Europe, former East Block countries, South America, Asia and Africa there is no possibility of obtaining an official work permit and thereby the corresponding permit of stay in Switzerland. 
Despite this, the demand for workers in the household sector and au pair women is big: because of the restrictive legal procedures it cannot be satisfied “legally”.
On the other hand, in the Eastern countries of origin, a rapid and uncontrolled increase in the number of au pair agencies can be observed.
Recruited by the shady and dubious practices of these agencies or by acquaintances, most of the women travel to Switzerland on a tourist visa. On arrival they work illegally as cheap child-minders and household helps and are defenceless and at the mercy of their employers. If, for instance, agreements on wages, language school, advice and care, working hours (30-hour week), permission by the Aliens Police and limitation of the duration of stay (max. 12-18 months) are not kept by the employer, the women cannot report this to the police without risking being expelled from the country.