Register your nanny in Switzerland. Legal and insured.

The minimum wage in the federal NAV for household work does not apply to nannies who mainly look after children. If your nanny also does housework, it does: at least CHF 20.35 an hour. Some cantons also have a cantonal minimum wage. According to the Swiss Nanny Association, the market pays CHF 25 to 40 an hour.

Usually at the end of the month, on the last working day at the latest. The law only requires an advance if your nanny falls into hardship (Art. 323 CO). You can pay by bank transfer or in cash. A transfer is the clearer proof of payment. In cash, have a wage receipt signed and keep it with the payslip. The employment must be registered either way.

Yes. Occupational accident insurance (UVG) is mandatory from the first hour, however few hours it is. From 8 hours a week, non-occupational accident insurance (NBU) is added. Clino compares the offers and prepares the application. You take out the policy with the insurer yourself. The family's private liability insurance does not cover the nanny.

How accident insurance (UVG) works →

You keep paying the salary for a limited time. From when is set by the cantonal standard employment contract (NAV): in 10 cantons from the first working day, in 4 after the probation period, in the rest once the employment has lasted more than three months or was agreed for more than three months (Art. 324a CO). How long is set by the NAV's scale: three weeks or one month in the first year of service, longer after that. In 15 cantons, cantonal law requires daily sickness benefits insurance (KTG) for household employees, for example in Zurich, Bern and Lucerne. Elsewhere it is optional but worth having, because it covers the lost wage during a long illness.

Sick child, sick nanny: who pays her wage? →

Under the CO, notice during the trial period (three months at most) is 7 days. After that: one month to the end of a month in the first year, two months from the second to the ninth year, three months from the tenth (Art. 335c CO). Some cantonal standard employment contracts (NAV) differ, on the trial period as well as on notice: Bern, for one, requires three months from the fourth year of service. Give notice in writing, ideally by registered letter. You only have to give reasons in writing if asked, and the notice must not be abusive.

Trial period and notice in your canton →

If the nanny works in your home, follows your instructions and works hours you set, the nanny is your employee (Art. 319 CO). Self-employment would need several families at once, their own premises and their own business risk. That fits almost no nanny. Getting the status wrong means risking undeclared work.

EU and EFTA citizens with a B or C permit may work as a nanny without further authorisation. Newcomers register with the municipality within 14 days and, with the employment contract, receive an L permit (up to 12 months) or a B; for jobs of up to 3 months an online notification is enough. Hiring a nanny directly from a non-EU/EFTA country (e.g. USA, UK, Brazil) is practically ruled out: permits only go to qualified specialists. If she already lives in Switzerland with a permit, for example through family reunification, she may work depending on that permit. With an L or B permit, withholding tax is mandatory. Clino accounts for it.

CHF 19.90 a month, whether for a nanny, a cleaner or several employees. Included: AHV/IV/EO/ALV accounting, payslips, wage statement, withholding-tax accounting and, for accident insurance, a comparison with a prepared application. No commission on the salary, no power of attorney, cancel monthly.

A nanny is your employee and looks after your children in your home. A childminder looks after children in their own home, often from several families, and is usually employed by a day-family organisation, rarely by you. For nannies, the Swiss Nanny Association gives a market wage of CHF 25 to 40 an hour. Day families charge their own rates.

Nanny, daycare and childminder compared →