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Employment of the domestic help

Hire your housekeeper

What you have to bear in mind when hiring your household help

What is considered a fair hourly wage for a domestic helper in Switzerland?

The hourly wage for domestic help (incl. social security contributions) in Switzerland is between CHF 23.- and 33.-, with regional differences. The domestic helpers on Homeservice24 determine their hourly wage themselves based on their experience and qualifications - and they state this in their pro

Do I have to insure my domestic help against accidents?

Regular employment Yes, you must take out accident insurance for your household; this insurance is compulsory in Switzerland. The most important facts about accident insurance in brief: it is compulsory in Switzerland for all household employment, it protects you against the financial co

I am looking for cleaning help for my company. How do I hire them?

You can employ your domestic helper through normal employment in your company. If you are currently a private customer, please change your account to a company account. To do this, you can 1. Scroll all the way down under "My Profile" and 2. Click on "Create Company Profile" in the "Are you work

Do I get help with registration and insurance of my domestic helper?

Yes, we will help you register and insure your domestic helper free of charge. We have developed our employment assistant Fairboss.ch for this purpose. You'll be guideded through the entire employment process step by step in just a few minutes. Fairboss.ch is an online tool that helps you as

In which case may a domestic helper work on account?

If your domestic help is self-employed, you can remunerate the service provided by means of an invoice and do not have to register your domestic help. In order to issue invoices, the cleaner must be visible on the market under her own name and on her own account and must want to increase her cust

Are taxes due when employing the domestic helper?

The domestic helper must pay tax on the income they receive from you. As an employer, the easiest way is to deduct a withholding tax of 5% from the gross salary (i.e. you withhold part of the salary and pass it on to the state at the end of the year). By deducting the withholding tax, the domestic h

Do I need a written work contract with the domestic help?

A written employment contract is not legally mandatory. An employment contract is subject to what is known as freedom of form and can be entered into orally or in writing. However, there is a high level of risk for both parties when it comes to an oral contract, as evidence must be provided in case

Can I deduct the costs for domestic help from my taxes?

Unfortunately no, you cannot deduct the costs of your domestic help from your taxes. The tax authorities consider these costs to be part of your normal living expenses. However, there is one exception: If you have a disability that prevents you from carrying out household tasks without help, it i

What happens if the domestic help quits?

If your employed domestic helper wants to resign, ask for a written notice of termination for your records. When giving notice, the agreed or statutory notice periods must be observed. If you gave your domestic help keys or other materials at the beginning of the cleaning work, have them returned t

How do I terminate my household helper?

If you need to terminate the employment of your household help, you should take the following steps to ensure compliance with Swiss labor law and maintain a positive relationship with your employee: 1. Provide written notice of termination with reasonable notice period according to Swiss law and

Do I have to insure and bill a domestic helper even for a one-off assignment?

Yes, you also have to register your cleaner for a one-off assignment such as a final cleaning for flat drop-off. However, there are two exceptions here: 1. your domestic help works on a self-employed basis and bills you. 2. it is a sack money job, i.e. the total salary in the calendar year is less

Do I have to register my domestic helper with the AHV?

Regular employment Yes, by law you are obliged to register your domestic help with the AHV - and thus with the important social insurances. This protects your domestic help from the negative consequences of disability, loss of income and unemployment in the event of an emergency. We help you

Where can I find a work contract template?

You can find a free work contract template here: https://homeservice24.ch/en/guide/work-contract-important-points  

What is Fairboss and how does it work?

Fairboss is an online tool that we have developed to provide private individuals with the best possible support in correctly employing their domestic help. Fairboss guides you step by step in just a few minutes through the entire employment process (incl. AHV registration, compulsory accident ins