Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in Ticino
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but Ticino 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 Ticino.
Minimum wage in Ticino
Ticino sets a cantonal statutory minimum wage of CHF 20.00 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.
- Cleaning and housekeeping in Ticino: the household as employer
- Childcare in Ticino: the household as employer
- Senior home help and companionship in Ticino: the household as employer
Hiring household help in Ticino in 2026: IAS, contributions and minimum wage
The rules in Ticino
What the law in Ticino asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 23 September 2026
What differs in Ticino
Paid public holidays
Thursday, 1 January, Tuesday, 6 January, Monday, 6 April, Thursday, 14 May, Saturday, 1 August, Saturday, 15 August, Sunday, 1 November, 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 Ticino, and what applies on public holidays?
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases:
- under age 20
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 Ticino
Public holidays on working days stay paid: 1 August and the holidays of Ticino.
Source: Contratto normale di lavoro per il personale domestico, art. 17, art. 18, 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.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in Ticino?
Ticino does not require a signed letter. Notice counts from the day the other side receives it.
The Ticino 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.
Sources: Art. 1, 8, 9 and ti.ch. Checked on 23 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in Ticino?
The paid public holidays in Ticino in 2026 are Thursday, 1 January, Tuesday, 6 January, Monday, 6 April, Thursday, 14 May, Saturday, 1 August, Saturday, 15 August, Sunday, 1 November, Friday, 25 December and Saturday, 26 December.
On irregular hours, 3.60% 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 Ticino law, 2026
- Thursday, 1 January
- Tuesday, 6 January
- Monday, 6 April
- Thursday, 14 May
- Saturday, 1 August
- Saturday, 15 August
- Sunday, 1 November
- Friday, 25 December
- Saturday, 26 December
Public holiday share calculated on 7 October 2026.
Source: art. 18. Checked on 9 October 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in Ticino?
Your household is the employer, so you register with Istituto delle assicurazioni sociali.
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 Ticino 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 Ticino 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 Divisione delle contribuzioni, Ufficio delle imposte alla fonte e del bollo, 6500 Bellinzona within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- Istituto delle assicurazioni socialiThe compensation office charges an administration fee of 1.5% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Divisione delle contribuzioni, Ufficio delle imposte alla fonte e del bollo, 6500 Bellinzona
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: ti.ch, ahv-iv.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, m4.ti.ch, ti.ch, ti.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for Ticino
- 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 Ticino
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 1.6% 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
Ticino household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in Ticino?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in Ticino. 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 Ticino.
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.