Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in St. Gallen
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but St. Gallen 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 St. Gallen.
Minimum wage in St. Gallen
St. Gallen 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 St. Gallen
What the law in St. Gallen asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 25 September 2026
What differs in St. Gallen
Notice after probation
1 month in year 1, to the end of a month and 2 months from year 2, to the end of a month
Federal law: 1 month in year 1, to the end of a month, 2 months in years 2 to 9, to the end of a month and 3 months from year 10, to the end of a month
Paid holiday
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20, from age 50 and after 10 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
How many weeks of paid holidays does a Helper get in the canton of St. Gallen, 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
- after 10 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 St. Gallen
In the canton of St. Gallen, work on a public holiday carries no supplement in money.
Source: NAV hauswirtschaftliche Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer, sGS 513.1, Art. 17, Art. 15 Abs. 3, 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 St. Gallen?
After probation, the notice period is 1 month in year 1 and 2 months from year 2, each running to the end of a month.
- Year 1
- 1 month, to the end of a month
- From year 2
- 2 months, to the end of a month
- Probation
- 1 month
- Notice in probation
- 3 days, ending on any day
For a Helper who works part time on a regular basis, notice is 1 month (Art. 2 Abs. 2, 3, 4, 5).
Source: Art. 2 Abs. 2, 3, 4, 5. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in St. Gallen?
St. Gallen does not require a signed letter. Notice counts from the day the other side receives it.
- Contract and records
- The payslip shows day work, night work and time on call (Art. 10 Abs. 2 NAV SG, sGS 513.1).
The St. Gallen standard contract requires the household to take out daily sickness benefit insurance (Art. 20). This applies to an open-ended contract, or a job agreed for more than 1 month.
Source: Art. 2 Abs. 2, 3, 4, 5. Checked on 25 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in St. Gallen?
The paid public holiday in St. Gallen in 2026 is Saturday, 1 August.
On irregular hours, 0.39% 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.
Sources: Art. 15 Abs. 3 and seco.admin.ch. Checked on 9 October 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in St. Gallen?
Your household is the employer, so you register with SVA St.Gallen.
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 St. Gallen 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 St. Gallen 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 Kantonales Steueramt, Abteilung Quellensteuer, 9001 St.Gallen within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- SVA St.GallenThe compensation office charges an administration fee of 5% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Kantonales Steueramt, Abteilung Quellensteuer, 9001 St.Gallen
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: svasg.ch, ahv-iv.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, svasg.ch, svasg.ch, sg.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for St. Gallen
- 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 St. Gallen
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.
Family allowances (FAK): what your household pays and who claims
Find local help
St. Gallen household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in St. Gallen?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in St. Gallen. 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 St. Gallen.
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.