Crossword Genius

Foreign helpers reportedly are indebted to couples (2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

au pairs

'foreign helpers' is the definition.
(typically foreign housework and childcare helpers)

'reportedly are indebted to couples' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' shows a homophone (sound like).
'are indebted to' becomes 'owe' ('they owe' means 'they are indebted to').
'couples' becomes 'pairs' ('pair' can be a synonym of 'couple').
'owe' is a homophone of 'au'.
'au'+'pairs'='AU PAIRS'

(Other definitions for au pairs that I've seen before include "Young foreigners who live and help in homes" , "Foreign nannies" , "Domestic servants, 'on an equal footing' in their own tongue!" , "Language students doing homework" , "home helps" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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