Yu was shocked. "I did nothing wrong. I treated them very well. I earn money through my own efforts, and I am not inferior to anyone," she said, adding that the agency－which operates out of an office of less than 80 square meters－had provided just one week's training before introducing her to the client, drawing up a contract and charging both parties a fee. As a result, she felt that the contract was nothing but a piece of paper.

Work ethic

Unlike Yu, Lan Tian, an ex-farmer from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region who works in Beijing as a maternity matron－a short-term nanny－is prospering.

The 55-year-old, who has been doing the job for four years, said she is popular with clients because of her work ethic and uncomplaining nature.

When caring for a newborn, Lan only sleeps two to four hours a day. Usually the parents are out at work, so she does not have time for lunch. Even so, she offers to do housework when she is not caring for the baby and rarely takes days off.

"You will only receive recognition from employers if you treat them respectfully. If you do that, you will build a reputation and more clients will ask for you," she said.

According to Lan, there is an unspoken industry rule that nannies who do not complain enjoy longer working lives and earn better money than their more outspoken peers.

Inadequate protection

In many smaller agencies, the rules governing employers are rarely stated clearly or adhered to, so most workers are not fully protected by the contracts they sign.