Employing cheap labour from Asia and having the length of working visas doubled are two ways of combating the childcare shortage in Australia authorities have said. Instead of employing European students on working holidays to act as au pairs industry experts want to attract more workers from Asia where wages are low. Extending au pairs on working holiday visas - who earn $250 a week as live-in nannies - to stay with one family for a year instead of the current six months is another option. The introduction of Asian nannies to Australia would go some way to help address the childcare shortage it's been argued . Compared with childcare rates of $100 a day or more, overseas nannies and au pairs can provide a cheaper and more flexible option for families with more than one child. The Daily Telegraph reports that Ross Taylor of the Indonesia Institute said provided protections were in place, opening up the au pair system to more workers from Indonesia could help deal with the crisis. ‘Indonesia has almost a million people working as au pairs around the world. Many are in countries that are not as safe and secure as Australia,’ he says. Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says foreign nannies are not the solution for increasing problems with the childcare system . ‘Why not provide a ­serious opportunity for women for a safe environment where they can learn English and send money home?’ Around 10,000 au pairs travel to Australia each year. Parents and au pair agencies complain the six-month rule currently be used is unsettling for families and tough on children particularly those with autism and special needs. By working in Australia nannies from Indonesia and the Philippines can learn English and send money home . However, foreign nannies paid as little as $250 a week are not the answer to limited childcare and rising costs, federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says. The Productivity Commission has suggested that extending the length of working visas for live-in nannies from overseas could help tackle the childcare shortage. Mr Shorten says that's not the way to solve the big challenges in childcare. Foreign nannies paid as little as $250 a week are not the answer to limited childcare, says Mr Shorten . 'I think what we need to do is make sure it's properly funded, that people can afford to pay it, that the fees aren't getting out of control and of course its good quality for our kids,' he told the Nine Network on Sunday. Social Services Minister Scott Morrison says the government will examine the Productivity Commission's recommendations.
Employing Asia nannies would help save money in the long run . Extension of au pairs visa from six months to a year another option . Opening up system to workers from Indonesia could help solve crisis . However, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten does not agree with this . Mr Shorten says it's not the way to solve the big challenges in childcare .