Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in Schaffhausen
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but Schaffhausen 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 Schaffhausen.
Minimum wage in Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen has no cantonal statutory minimum wage for household work. The federal standard contract for domestic work (NAV Hauswirtschaft) sets the floor 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 rules in Schaffhausen
What the law in Schaffhausen asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 25 September 2026
What differs in Schaffhausen
Paid holiday
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20 and from age 50
6 weeks in these cases: from age 60
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, Friday, 1 May, Thursday, 14 May, Monday, 25 May, Saturday, 1 August, Friday, 25 December and Saturday, 26 December
Federal law: Saturday, 1 August
How many weeks of paid holidays does a Helper get in the canton of Schaffhausen, and what applies on public holidays?
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases:
- under age 20
- from age 50
6 weeks in these cases:
- from age 60
On an hourly wage, holiday pay is 13.04% of the wage for 6 weeks of holidays (6 divided by 46 weeks worked).
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 Schaffhausen
Public holidays on working days stay paid: 1 August and the holidays of Schaffhausen.
In Schaffhausen, your Helper's hours on a Sunday or a public holiday are paid with a supplement of 50 percent.
Source: NAV für hauswirtschaftliche Arbeitnehmende, SHR 221.216, § 21 Abs. 1, § 25, § 15 Abs. 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 Schaffhausen?
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: §37, §59. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in Schaffhausen?
Schaffhausen does not require a signed letter. Notice counts from the day the other side receives it.
To end a fixed term contract early by agreement, put the agreement in writing (SHR 221.216 § 38 Abs. 2).
- Contract and records
- Put the wage and the working time in writing before work starts (§ 22 Abs. 2 NAV SH, SHR 221.216).A copy of the record of hours goes with each payslip (§ 16 Abs. 3 NAV SH, SHR 221.216).
The Schaffhausen standard contract requires the household to take out daily sickness benefit insurance (§ 31). This applies to an open-ended contract, or one of more than 3 months, with a workload of at least 50 percent.
Source: §37, §59. Checked on 25 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in Schaffhausen?
The paid public holidays in Schaffhausen in 2026 are Thursday, 1 January, Friday, 3 April, Monday, 6 April, Friday, 1 May, Thursday, 14 May, Monday, 25 May, Saturday, 1 August, Friday, 25 December and Saturday, 26 December.
On irregular hours, 3.59% 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 holidays under Schaffhausen law, 2026
- Thursday, 1 January
- Friday, 3 April
- Monday, 6 April
- Friday, 1 May
- Thursday, 14 May
- Monday, 25 May
- Saturday, 1 August
- Friday, 25 December
- Saturday, 26 December
Public holiday share calculated on 7 October 2026.
Hours worked on a public holiday earn a supplement of at least 50% (SHR 221.216 § 15 Abs. 4).
The same applies to hours worked on a Sunday (SHR 221.216 § 15 Abs. 4).
Source: § 15 Abs. 4, § 25. Checked on 1 October 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in Schaffhausen?
Your household is the employer, so you register with SVA Schaffhausen.
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 Schaffhausen 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.
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 Abt. Quellensteuer, 8200 Schaffhausen within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- SVA SchaffhausenThe compensation office charges an administration fee of 3% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Abt. Quellensteuer, 8200 Schaffhausen
The tax follows the Schaffhausen tariff for 2026, as the Federal Tax Administration publishes it.
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: svash.ch, ahv-iv.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, estv2.admin.ch, svash.ch, svash.ch, sh.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for Schaffhausen
- 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 Schaffhausen
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 1.3% of wages, but the exact rate depends on which family-allowance fund you are affiliated with, so treat it as approximate.
Schaffhausen household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in Schaffhausen?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen.
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.