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Cantonal compliance guide
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but Geneva sets some of its own rules — most importantly around minimum wage, the family-allowance rate and how withholding tax is handled. Here is what changes in Geneva.
Geneva applies a cantonal statutory minimum wage of CHF 24.59 per hour. Helpore enforces the higher of this cantonal floor and the federal model-contract (NAV Hauswirtschaft) minimum on every booking, so helpers in Geneva are always paid at or above the legal floor.
Household employers resident in Geneva register the employment with OCAS – Caisse cantonale genevoise de compensation, the AHV compensation office responsible for the canton, and pay contributions from the first franc — there is no lower limit. The exact registration steps and any deadline are set at cantonal level; you can register directly with OCAS – Caisse cantonale genevoise de compensation (link below) or let Helpore handle the registration as part of setting up the employment.
First-pillar contributions (AHV/IV/EO at 5.3% each) and unemployment insurance (ALV at 1.1% each, up to CHF 148,200 a year) are federal and identical everywhere. What Geneva sets is the family allowance: in 2026 at least CHF 311 a month per child and CHF 415 a month for a child in post-compulsory education, financed by an employer family-allowance contribution (FAK). The cantonal family-equalisation fund rate is about 2.22% of wages, but the exact rate depends on which family-allowance fund you are affiliated with, so treat it as approximate.
If your helper is taxed at source — typically foreign nationals resident in Switzerland without a settlement (C) permit, and certain non-residents — you deduct withholding tax and settle it with the Geneva tax office, whose tariff applies; there is no single national rate. Under the simplified settlement procedure the income tax is instead discharged at a flat 5% of gross, settled once a year through the compensation office.
With OCAS – Caisse cantonale genevoise de compensation, the AHV compensation office responsible for Geneva. You can register directly (see the official link below), and Helpore can handle the registration as part of setting up the employment. Contributions are due from the first franc.
In 2026 Geneva pays at least CHF 311 a month per child and CHF 415 a month for a child in post-compulsory education. Some families receive more — for example for older children or from the third child. The allowance is funded by the employer's family-allowance contribution.
Helpore always pays at or above the applicable floor in Geneva: where Geneva sets a cantonal statutory minimum wage that applies, otherwise the federal NAV Hauswirtschaft minimum does. The minimum-wage box above shows which one applies in Geneva.
Only if they are taxed at source — generally foreign nationals without a settlement (C) permit, and certain non-residents. Swiss citizens and C-permit holders are taxed in the ordinary procedure instead. The Geneva tax office sets the tariff; under the simplified procedure the tax is discharged at a flat 5%.
Helpore registers the employment, allocates payroll, arranges insurance and produces the documents — so the compliance steps below are taken care of for you.