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NAV Domestic Work 2026

March 1, 2026

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7 min

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checkeverything.ch Team

NAV Domestic Work 2026: New minimum wages for cleaners, nannies, and household helpers. What employers and employees need to know.

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NAV Domestic Work: The Essentials 2026

The Standard Employment Contract for Employees in Domestic Work (NAV Hauswirtschaft) regulates minimum wages and working conditions for all persons employed in private households in Switzerland.

Who Is Affected?

Professional Group	Activities	NAV Required
Cleaning staff	Cleaning, washing, ironing	✓ Yes
Childcare	Nanny, au-pair, babysitter	✓ Yes
Elderly care	Household help for elderly persons	✓ Yes
Gardeners	Garden maintenance in private household	✓ Yes
Caretakers	Janitor for private household	✓ Yes

NAV Domestic Work Minimum Wages 2026

Federal Minimum Wages

The NAV Domestic Work applies throughout Switzerland, but cantons can set higher minimum wages.

Category	Description	Minimum Wage/Hour
Unskilled	Without vocational training	CHF 19.45
With experience	4+ years in domestic work	CHF 21.10
With training	EBA Domestic Work or similar	CHF 22.40
With EFZ	EFZ Domestic Work Professional	CHF 24.05

Cantonal Differences

In some cantons, higher minimum wages apply that override the NAV:

Canton	Minimum Wage 2026	Regulation
Geneva (GE)	CHF 24.59	Cantonal minimum wage
Basel-City (BS)	CHF 22.20	Cantonal minimum wage
Ticino (TI)	CHF 20.08	CLA or minimum wage
Neuchâtel (NE)	CHF 21.09	Cantonal minimum wage
Jura (JU)	CHF 21.40	Cantonal minimum wage
Other cantons	CHF 19.45+	NAV Domestic Work

Important: The higher wage always applies - cantonal minimum wage or NAV Domestic Work.

Obligations as an Employer

What You Need to Consider as a Private Household

As an employer of household help, you have the following obligations:

Obligation	Details	Consequence of Violation
Pay minimum wage	According to NAV or canton	Back payment + fine
Social insurance	Process AHV, IV, EO, ALV	Back payment + interest
Accident insurance	Take out UVG insurance	Personal liability
Payslip	Create monthly statement	Burden of proof
Employment contract	Written recommended	Proof difficulties

Calculating Wage Costs

Employer contributions come on top of gross wage:

Contribution	Employee	Employer	Total
AHV/IV/EO	5.30%	5.30%	10.60%
ALV	1.10%	1.10%	2.20%
BU (Occupational accident)	-	approx. 0.5%	approx. 0.5%
NBU (Non-occupational accident)	approx. 1.5%	-	approx. 1.5%
Total	approx. 7.9%	approx. 6.9%	approx. 14.8%

Simplified Settlement Procedure

For private households, there is the simplified settlement procedure:

Registration with the AHV compensation office
Annual settlement instead of monthly
Flat-rate withholding tax (5%) for foreigners without C permit
All insurance is settled centrally

Limit: Wage sum under CHF 22,050 per year and employee.

Employment Contract: Template for Household Help

Important Contract Components

A written employment contract should include:

Item	Content
Contracting parties	Name, address of employer and employee
Start of employment	Date of first working day
Activities	Description of tasks
Working hours	Weekly hours, working days
Wage	Gross wage per hour/month
Vacation	Min. 4 weeks (5 weeks under 20 years)
Notice period	1st year: 1 month, then per NAV
Probation period	Max. 3 months

Example Calculation: What Does a Cleaner Cost?

Sample Calculation for 4 Hours per Week

Item	Calculation	Amount
Hourly wage (gross)	CHF 25.00 (incl. vacation)	CHF 25.00
Hours per month	4h × 4.33 weeks	17.3h
Gross wage/month	17.3h × CHF 25	CHF 432.50
+ Employer contributions	6.9%	CHF 29.84
Total cost/month		CHF 462.34
Total cost/year	× 12 months	CHF 5,548.08

Tip: The vacation supplement (8.33% for 4 weeks) should be included in the hourly wage.

Tax Deductions

Household Help as a Tax Deduction

In some cantons, costs for household help can be deducted from taxes:

Canton	Max. Deduction	Requirement
Zurich	CHF 3,800	Employment + child under 14
Bern	CHF 3,100	Childcare
Basel-City	CHF 5,000	Childcare up to 14 years
Federal tax	CHF 25,500	Third-party childcare

Important: Only legally registered household help can be claimed as a tax deduction.

FAQ

Do I have to register my cleaner with the AHV?

Yes, in principle yes. Exception: Wage under CHF 750 per year with one employer. From CHF 750 per year, AHV settlement is mandatory.

Does the minimum wage apply to hourly employment?

Yes, the NAV Domestic Work applies regardless of workload – even for just a few hours per week.

What happens with undeclared work?

Undeclared work can be expensive:

Back payment of all social insurance (up to 5 years retroactively)
Default interest
Fines up to CHF 1,000,000 (legal entities)
Personal liability in case of accidents

Do I need a written contract?

An oral contract is legally valid, but a written contract is strongly recommended for evidence purposes.

How do I calculate the vacation supplement?

4 weeks vacation: 8.33% supplement on hourly wage
5 weeks vacation: 10.64% supplement on hourly wage

Checklist for Employers

✅ NAV Domestic Work Checklist

☐ Check minimum wage according to NAV or canton
☐ Create written employment contract
☐ AHV registration with compensation office
☐ Take out UVG insurance
☐ Check simplified procedure
☐ Create monthly payslip
☐ Check withholding tax (foreign employees)
☐ Calculate vacation supplement correctly

Conclusion

The NAV Domestic Work 2026 protects both employees and employers through clear minimum wage regulations. As an employer, you should:

Pay the correct minimum wage (NAV or cantonal minimum wage)
Process social insurance correctly
Create a written employment contract
Use the simplified settlement procedure

Proper employment may seem cumbersome at first, but it protects you from high back payments and legal problems.

Legal Notice: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Exact minimum wages and regulations may vary by canton. Binding information is available from SECO or your cantonal AHV compensation office.