Insurance & Costs

Insuring your cleaner: What you have to pay as an employer

If you hire a cleaner, you are an employer - and you have to insure them. The good news: there are only four mandatory contributions, and the surcharge on the wage is usually around 8%. Use the calculator below to see exactly what to expect.

Updated: July 2026·Reading time: 8 min

Answer in 30 seconds

Updated July 2026

Four insurances are always mandatory for a cleaner: AHV/IV/EO, ALV (unemployment insurance), UVG occupational accident and FAK (family allowances). Together they cost the employer around 8% on top of the wage. From 8 hours/week, UVG non-occupational accident (NBU) is added (paid by the employee); from CHF 22'680 annual wage, the pension fund (BVG) is added too.

Always mandatory: AHV/IV/EO (5.3%), ALV (unemployment insurance) (1.1%), UVG occupational accident (0.505%), FAK (family allowances) (cantonal ~1-2%).
From 8 hours/week: UVG non-occupational accident (NBU) (1.432%) - the premium is paid by the employee, but you have to take out the policy.
From CHF 22'680 annual wage and age 25: pension fund (BVG) becomes mandatory.

This applies when

You employ a cleaner, household help or cleaning assistant in your private household.

Which insurances are mandatory?

As soon as you employ someone in your household, contribution obligations arise from the first franc of wage - there is no minimum threshold for adult employees. Four contributions are always due; two more depend on the workload and wage level.

Always mandatory - from the first franc

AHV/IV/EO

5.3% + 5.3%

Old-age, disability and loss-of-earnings insurance. Employer and employee each pay 5.3%. Mandatory from the first franc, without exception.

ALV (unemployment insurance)

1.1% + 1.1%

Covers loss of earnings in the event of unemployment. 1.1% each, up to an annual wage of CHF 148'200 - for a cleaning job always fully insured.

UVG occupational accident (BU)

0.505%

Insures accidents at work and on the way to work. Mandatory from the first hour; the premium is paid solely by the employer.

FAK (family allowances)

cantonal ~1-2%

Finances the child and education allowances. A pure employer contribution; the rate varies by canton (in VS and VD the employee also pays a small part).

Depending on the situation

UVG non-occupational accident (NBU)

1.432%

Covers leisure-time accidents. Mandatory only from 8 hours/week with you. The premium is deducted from the employee's wage - but you have to take out the policy. Below 8 hours, their health insurer covers leisure-time accidents.

BVG (pension fund, 2nd pillar)

age-dependent 7-18%

Mandatory only from an annual wage of CHF 22'680 and age 25. For most hourly cleaning jobs it does not apply - in which case the simplified procedure is possible.

Cost calculator: What do you really pay?

Enter the hourly wage and hours per week. The calculator shows your employer costs, the surcharge as a percentage and what is actually mandatory for your workload.

Employer calculator 2026

What your cleaner really costs you

Enter the hourly wage and hours per week - the calculator shows how much you pay in social insurance on top of the wage and which insurances are mandatory at your hours.

Your details

Hourly wage (CHF)

Hours per week

Canton

Cleaner's age

Your employer costs

CHF 561per month

You pay an extra +7.9% on top of the wage.

Gross wage: CHF 520per year: CHF 6'735

Your contributions (mandatory)

AHV/IV/EO (5.3%): CHF 28
ALV (unemployment) (1.1%): CHF 6
UVG-BU (occupational accident) (0.505%): CHF 3
FAK (family allowances) (1.025%): CHF 5
Total cost: CHF 561

Gross wage + all mandatory employer contributions

No NBU obligation

Below 8 hours per week only occupational accidents (UVG-BU) are mandatory. Leisure accidents are covered by your cleaner's health insurance.

Simplified procedure available

The annual wage is below CHF 22,680 - no BVG required. You can settle via the simplified procedure (flat 5% withholding tax, one form per year).

What your cleaner takes home

These are deducted from the wage - they cost you nothing extra.

AHV/IV/EO (5.3%): − CHF 28
ALV (1.1%): − CHF 6
Withholding tax (flat) (5%): − CHF 26
Net pay: CHF 461

2026 guide values. AHV/ALV/UVG are fixed nationwide; FAK varies by canton; BVG contributions depend on the pension plan. Sick-pay insurance (KTG) is optional and not included here.

Clino handles AHV, UVG, FAK and payroll - for CHF 19.90/month.

Schweizer Franken - Arbeitgeberbeiträge für die Putzfrau

Who pays what?

Important to understand: part of the contributions comes on top of the wage (your real additional costs), another part is deducted from the employee's wage (costs you nothing extra).

The employer pays on top

+Half of AHV/IV/EO (5.3%)
+Half of ALV (unemployment insurance) (1.1%)
+UVG occupational accident in full (0.505%)
+FAK (family allowances) in full (cantonal ~1-2%)
+Half of BVG (pension fund) - only if mandatory

Deducted from the wage

−Half of AHV/IV/EO (5.3%)
−Half of ALV (unemployment insurance) (1.1%)
−UVG non-occupational accident (NBU) (1.432%) - from 8 hours/week
−Withholding tax (5% flat rate under the simplified procedure)
−Half of BVG (pension fund) - only if mandatory

Don't forget: holiday compensation

With an hourly wage, holiday compensation is added: 8.33% for 4 weeks of holiday, 10.64% for 5 weeks. It is part of the wage (not the social contributions) and is shown separately on the payslip.

Simplified or ordinary procedure?

For small household wages there is the simplified procedure: a single annual statement via the compensation office, 5% withholding tax flat rate, no BVG. It is almost always worthwhile - as long as you stay below the wage limit.

CHF 22'680Wage limit per person and year for the simplified procedure

Simplified procedure

Possible up to CHF 22'680 wage per person and year (and CHF 60'480 for the entire household). One form per year; the compensation office settles AHV, ALV, UVG and the 5% withholding tax all together. No BVG.

Ordinary procedure

From CHF 22'680 annual wage (or if you choose it). Monthly payroll accounting, ordinary withholding tax according to tariff and - from age 25 - a mandatory pension fund (BVG).

What happens if you don't insure?

Without registration you save the ~8% in the short term - but you risk a multiple of that. In the event of an audit, you face AHV back-payments for up to 5 years, 5% default interest and a fine of up to CHF 10'000 (AHVG Art. 88).

What happens if you don't insure?

The most expensive scenario is an accident: if the cleaner is not UVG-insured, you are personally and unlimitedly liable for medical costs, daily allowances and any pensions (Art. 68 and 95 UVG). An accident cannot be insured retroactively.

→ Cleaner not registered: What really happens?

Sources & official information

1AHV/IV - contributions and information sheets for employers - www.ahv-iv.ch/de/
2BSV - AHV contribution rates - www.bsv.admin.ch/bsv/de/home/sozialversicherungen/ahv/grundlagen-gesetze/ahv-beitragssaetze.html
3UVG - Accident Insurance Act (SR 832.20) - www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1982/1676_1676_1676/de
4Simplified accounting procedure (BGSA) - information sheet - www.ahv-iv.ch/de/Merkblätter-Formulare/Merkblätter/Beiträge-an-die-AHV-IV-und-EO

All insurances from a single source

Clino registers your cleaner with the AHV, takes care of UVG and FAK, prepares the payslips and the annual statement - for CHF 19.90 a month. You don't have to calculate anything yourself.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I have to insure my cleaner if she only comes 2 hours a week?

Yes. AHV/IV/EO, ALV (unemployment insurance), UVG occupational accident and FAK (family allowances) are mandatory from the first franc - regardless of the workload. Only UVG non-occupational accident and BVG depend on hours or wage level.

Roughly how much does the insurance cost me?

Around 8% on top of the gross wage for the mandatory employer contributions (AHV, ALV, UVG-BU, FAK). At CHF 500 wage per month that is about CHF 40 extra. The calculator above shows your exact amount.

Who pays the accident insurance?

The occupational accident (UVG-BU, 0.505%) is paid solely by the employer. The non-occupational accident (UVG-NBU, 1.432%) is paid by the employee via a wage deduction - but only if she works at least 8 hours a week for you. In both cases the employer must take out the insurance.

From when do I have to pay a pension fund (BVG)?

Only from an annual wage of CHF 22'680 per employer and from age 25. Most hourly cleaning jobs are below this - in which case no pension fund is required and the simplified procedure is possible.

What is the simplified procedure?

A simplified statement for small household wages up to CHF 22'680 per person and year. You report the wage to the compensation office once a year, which settles AHV, ALV, UVG and 5% withholding tax at a flat rate. No monthly effort, no BVG.

Can I treat my cleaner as self-employed to save on the contributions?

No. Cleaning in private households almost always counts as an employment relationship, not as self-employed work - an invoice or a business licence does not change that. Anyone who still doesn't register bears the full back-payment and liability risk.