Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in Neuchâtel
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but Neuchâtel 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 Neuchâtel.
Minimum wage in Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel sets a cantonal statutory minimum wage of CHF 21.35 an hour.
The federal standard contract for domestic work (NAV Hauswirtschaft) also applies when the person works on average at least 5 hours a week for the same household: CHF 20.35 an hour without a qualification, CHF 22.30 with at least four years of household experience or a two year certificate (EBA) and CHF 24.55 with a three year certificate (EFZ). The household always pays the higher minimum.
The rules in Neuchâtel
What the law in Neuchâtel asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 28 September 2026
What differs in Neuchâtel
Paid holiday
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20, after 10 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
Notice in writing
For a Helper who lives in your household, notice must be in writing and signed (RSN 225.42 art. 18).
Federal law: no signed letter needed
How many weeks of paid holidays does a Helper get in the canton of Neuchâtel, 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 10 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 Neuchâtel
Public holidays on working days stay paid: 1 August and the holidays of Neuchâtel.
In the canton of Neuchâtel, work on a public holiday carries no supplement in money.
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: Arrêté CTT pour le service de maison, RSN 225.42, art. 10, art. 8 al. 3 et 4, 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 Neuchâtel?
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. 1, 2, 17, 18. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in Neuchâtel?
For a Helper who lives in your household, notice must be in writing and signed (RSN 225.42 art. 18).
- Contract and records
- Your Helper signs or confirms the record of hours every month (art. 6 al. 6 CTT NE, RSN 225.42).
The Neuchâtel standard contract does not require the household to take out daily sickness benefit insurance. You and your Helper may agree such insurance in the contract.
Source: RSN 225.42 art. 18. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in Neuchâtel?
The paid public holiday in Neuchâtel in 2026 is Saturday, 1 August.
On irregular hours, 2.36% is added to every hour worked to pay for public holidays.
On fixed days or a monthly salary, nothing is added. The agreed month is paid in full, holidays and public holidays included.
Public holiday share calculated on 7 October 2026.
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. 8 al. 3 et 4).
Sources: art. 8 al. 3 et 4 and seco.admin.ch. Checked on 9 October 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in Neuchâtel?
Your household is the employer, so you register with Caisse cantonale neuchâteloise 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 Neuchâtel 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.
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 Neuchâtel 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 Office de l'impôt à la source, 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- Caisse cantonale neuchâteloise de compensationThe compensation office charges an administration fee of 1.8% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Office de l'impôt à la source, 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds
For a Helper who lives across the border, these forms apply in Neuchâtel:
- Valais, Wegleitung zur Erhebung der Quellensteuer 2025, Grenzgänger, filed by your Helper
Your household must insure your Helper against occupational accidents from the first hour, with an authorised insurer. Non-occupational cover is added once your Helper works 8 hours a week or more for your household.
Sources: caisseavsne.ch, ahv-iv.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, vs.ch, caisseavsne.ch, caisseavsne.ch, ne.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for Neuchâtel
- 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 Neuchâtel
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 1.8% of wages, but the exact rate depends on which family-allowance fund you are affiliated with, so treat it as approximate.
Neuchâtel household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in Neuchâtel?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in Neuchâtel. 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 Neuchâtel.
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.