Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in Geneva
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.
Minimum wage in Geneva
Geneva sets a cantonal statutory minimum wage of CHF 24.59 an hour.
Geneva does not use the federal model contract. Its own binding contract for domestic work, the CTT-EDom, grades the minimum by qualification: CHF 24.59 per hour without a qualification, CHF 24.85 with a federal certificate (AFP) or four years of experience, CHF 25.11 with a federal diploma (CFC), and CHF 26.78 for a CFC in horticulture. Helpore applies the rung that matches the Helper and the work.
The rules in Geneva
What the law in Geneva asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 28 September 2026
What differs in Geneva
Paid holiday
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20, after 20 years with the same household and from age 50, after 5 years with the same household
Federal law: At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20
Paid public holidays
Thursday, 1 January, Friday, 3 April, Monday, 6 April, Thursday, 14 May, Monday, 25 May, Saturday, 1 August, Thursday, 10 September, Friday, 25 December and Thursday, 31 December
Federal law: Saturday, 1 August
Notice in writing
Notice must be in writing and signed (art. 23 al. 2 CTT-EDom).
Federal law: no signed letter needed
How many weeks of paid holidays does a Helper get in the canton of Geneva, and what applies on public holidays?
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases:
- under age 20
- after 20 years with the same household
- from age 50, after 5 years with the same household
On an hourly wage, holiday pay is 8.33% of the wage for 4 weeks of holidays (4 divided by 48 weeks worked) and 10.64% for 5 weeks (5 divided by 47).
Sunday and holiday work in Geneva
On a monthly salary, public holidays on working days stay paid: the national holiday and the holidays of the canton of Geneva. On an hourly wage, only the national holiday stays paid (art. 19 al. 3).
In Geneva, your Helper's hours on a Sunday or a public holiday give her a choice: 50 percent more pay, or paid time off increased by half.
On a monthly salary, your Helper gets a paid day off within 4 weeks for each public holiday worked. On an hourly wage, the same applies to work on the national holiday.
Source: CTT-EDom, rsGE J 1 50.03, art. 21 al. 1, art. 7 al. 2, art. 19 al. 3 et 5, read on 9 October 2026.
On irregular hours, the holiday pay is added to every hour worked.
On fixed days or a monthly salary, the wage continues during the holiday and nothing is added.
Notice and probation
How long is the notice period for a Helper in Geneva?
After probation, the notice period is 1 month in year 1, 2 months in years 2 to 9 and 3 months from year 10, each running to the end of a month.
- Year 1
- 1 month, to the end of a month
- Years 2 to 9
- 2 months, to the end of a month
- From year 10
- 3 months, to the end of a month
- Probation
- 1 month
- Notice in probation
- 7 days, ending on any day
Source: Art. 2, 22, 23. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in Geneva?
Notice must be in writing and signed (art. 23 al. 2 CTT-EDom).
- Contract and records
- Keep a record of hours worked and rest days (art. 10bis al. 3 CTT-EDom, rsGE J 1 50.03).
The Geneva standard contract requires the household to take out daily sickness benefit insurance (Art. 13).
Source: art. 23 al. 2 CTT-EDom. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in Geneva?
The paid public holidays in Geneva in 2026 are Thursday, 1 January, Friday, 3 April, Monday, 6 April, Thursday, 14 May, Monday, 25 May, Saturday, 1 August, Thursday, 10 September, Friday, 25 December and Thursday, 31 December.
On irregular hours, Helpore's own rule adds 3.90% to every hour worked to pay for public holidays. It also counts public holidays the standard contract in Geneva does not require, so it is above the legal minimum.
On fixed days or a monthly salary, nothing is added. The agreed month is paid in full, holidays and public holidays included.
Public holidays under Geneva law, 2026
- Thursday, 1 January
- Friday, 3 April
- Monday, 6 April
- Thursday, 14 May
- Monday, 25 May
- Saturday, 1 August
- Thursday, 10 September
- Friday, 25 December
- Thursday, 31 December
Public holiday share calculated on 7 October 2026.
Hours worked on a public holiday earn a supplement of at least 50%. If your Helper prefers, they get paid time off for those hours plus the same 50% instead (CTT-EDom Art. 7 al. 2).
The same applies to hours worked on a Sunday (CTT-EDom Art. 7 al. 2).
On a monthly salary, your Helper gets a paid day off within 4 weeks for each public holiday worked. On an hourly wage, the same applies to work on the national holiday (art. 7 al. 2, art. 19 al. 3 et 5).
Source: art. 7 al. 2, art. 19 al. 3 et 5. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in Geneva?
Your household is the employer, so you register with Office cantonal des assurances sociales, Caisse genevoise de compensation.
In the simplified procedure, register within 30 days of your Helper's first working day, unless your household is already registered.
Your household owes contributions from the first franc of wage. There is no lower limit.
The canton of Geneva sets the exact registration steps and any deadline.
Taxed at source are usually foreign nationals living in Switzerland without a settlement (C) permit, and certain people living abroad. Swiss citizens and holders of a C permit are taxed in the ordinary procedure.
In Geneva, outside the simplified procedure, a Helper who lives in the canton and is under 18 on 31 December is taxed at source whatever their nationality, Swiss citizens and holders of a C permit included.
If your Helper is taxed at source, you deduct the tax from your Helper's pay and settle it with the source tax office.
The Geneva tariff applies.
There is no single national rate.
In the simplified procedure, the income tax is instead a flat 5% of the gross wage, paid once a year through the compensation office.
- Yearly declaration
- In the simplified procedure, declare the year's wages by 30 January of the following year.
- Helper taxed at source
- Outside the simplified procedure, report a Helper taxed at source to Service de l'impôt à la source, 1211 Genève 3 within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- Office cantonal des assurances sociales, Caisse genevoise de compensationThe compensation office charges an administration fee of at most 5% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Service de l'impôt à la source, 1211 Genève 3
Your household must insure your Helper against occupational accidents from the first day of work, with an authorised insurer. Non-occupational cover is added once your Helper works 8 hours a week or more for your household.
Sources: ocas.ch, ahv-iv.ch, silgeneve.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, fedlex.admin.ch, ocas.ch, ge.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for Geneva
- Holiday pay calculator
Your Helper's holiday in weeks and in francs.
- Notice period calculator
The last day of employment and the article of law behind it.
Your answers stay in this browser.
Social contributions and family allowances in Geneva
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. 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.
Family allowances (FAK): what your household pays and who claims
Find local help
Geneva household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in Geneva?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in Geneva. Everywhere except Geneva, the federal NAV Hauswirtschaft minimum applies when the person works on average at least 5 hours a week for the same household; Geneva has its own binding contract for domestic work. Where the canton or a city also sets a statutory minimum wage, the highest of them applies. The minimum wage box above shows the figures for Geneva.
Official sources
Service guides
Let Helpore take on the administration
Your household stays the employer. With Helpore Admin, under your signed power of attorney, Helpore registers the employment and runs payroll, insurance and documents in your name. With Admin Light, Helpore prepares the calculation and the documents, and you file and pay yourself.