Guide
Hiring a Cleaner in Switzerland: How to Do It Legally (Without Becoming an Employer)
If you're new to Zug — whether you moved here for a multinational HQ or a crypto-valley startup — you've probably heard that hiring a cleaner is simple: agree on an hourly rate, pay cash, done. It isn't. The moment you pay someone to clean your home, Swiss law treats you as their employer — with OASI (AHV) contributions, mandatory accident insurance, paid holidays and more. Almost nobody arriving from abroad expects this. This guide lays out honestly what the law requires, what's actually at risk if you skip it, and the alternative if you'd rather not carry that administrative load and liability yourself.
The common misconception
Many expat households assume that paying a cleaner in cash, or only booking a few hours a month, keeps things informal and low-risk. Under Swiss law, it doesn't work that way.
According to the official OASI/AHV information sheet (Merkblatt 2.06), essentially any paid work in a private household is subject to social security contributions — regardless of how small the wage is. There is no minimum threshold here, unlike ordinary employment relationships. Two hours a month is already enough to make you an employer.
What Swiss law actually requires: you're an employer from hour one
The moment you pay someone to clean your home, you're legally a 'household employer'. That comes with concrete obligations:
- Register with your canton's compensation office (Ausgleichskasse) and pay OASI/disability/loss-of-earnings (AHV/IV/EO) contributions — even for small wages or short assignments.
- Mandatory accident insurance (UVG): you must insure your cleaner with a licensed accident insurer for occupational accidents; at eight or more hours a week with you, non-occupational accident cover is required too.
- At least four weeks of paid holiday per year, calculated as an 8.33% supplement on hourly wages.
- Continued pay during illness, pregnancy or maternity leave, plus a clearly agreed — ideally written — employment contract.
- Compliance with the cantonal minimum wage for household work (Normalarbeitsvertrag Hauswirtschaft).
The real risk of paying under the table
Undeclared cleaning help is rarely caught by an inspection — it tends to surface after an accident, a sick note, or a dispute.
When it does, you owe every social security contribution retroactively, plus default interest, on top of fines; serious cases can carry criminal penalties under Swiss law.
The sharpest risk: without accident insurance, you're personally liable for the full cost of a workplace accident — hospital, rehabilitation, potentially a pension. That can run into tens of thousands of francs, for a risk a modest annual premium would have covered.
Option A: Register properly — manageable, but it's paperwork
The good news: Switzerland has a simplified accounting procedure (vereinfachtes Abrechnungsverfahren) built specifically for short or small household employment relationships.
In practice: you register with the compensation office within 30 days of the start of employment, deduct withholding tax (5%) and social contributions from the wage, and declare the total once a year, by the end of January. A variant (VAvplus) lets you settle the accident insurance premium through the same office.
Honestly, most households can manage this — but it stays administration you handle on top of work and family, with ID checks, forms, and ongoing employer responsibility.
Option B: Hire a cleaning company instead
The alternative: book a company like Wie Neu - Reinigungsfirma instead of a private individual. Legally, you remain a client of a service provider, not an employer.
The company employs its own staff and carries the wages, OASI contributions, accident insurance and everything else. If a cleaner is sick or on holiday, the company arranges cover — you're never left without a clean home.
You get a consistent, trained and insured cleaner or team, billed transparently by the hour.
A fair comparison — both paths are legitimate
Which one fits depends on your situation:
- Hiring directly suits you if you want the same trusted person for years and don't mind the paperwork that comes with being an employer.
- A cleaning company suits you if you want flexibility, guaranteed cover, and no employer status — especially useful with a demanding job, frequent relocation, or little time for admin.
- Both are entirely legal and legitimate, as long as the obligations above are actually met.
How it works with Wie Neu - Reinigungsfirma
Wie Neu - Reinigungsfirma, based in Baar, cleans homes, apartments and offices across Kanton Zug, with 60+ Google reviews from clients.
You pay from CHF 43.90 per hour on the Standard rate (excl. VAT, per person and hour), and you get a written estimate of the hours needed before the first visit. No surprises — you decide visit by visit.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need to register a cleaner with OASI if she only comes for two hours a week?
Yes. Under the official OASI/AHV information sheet, essentially any paid work in a private household triggers the contribution obligation, regardless of the wage or the hours.
What happens if I don't register my cleaner?
You risk having to pay all social security contributions retroactively with default interest, plus fines — and if there's an accident without insurance, full personal liability for the costs.
Do I need accident insurance even for just a few hours a week?
Yes, occupational accident insurance is always mandatory. If the person works eight or more hours a week for you, non-occupational accident cover is required as well.
What's different if I hire a cleaning company instead?
You stay a client of a business rather than becoming the employer of a private individual. The company carries the wages, social insurance and cover for absences — you simply pay for the hours worked.
Is there a minimum contract period with Wie Neu - Reinigungsfirma?
No. There's no minimum term — you can book or stop visits flexibly.
How does the cost compare to hiring a cleaner directly?
With Wie Neu - Reinigungsfirma, rates start at CHF 43.90 per hour on the Standard rate, excl. VAT, per person — without the administrative cost and liability of employing someone yourself.
Would rather not deal with OASI registration, accident insurance, and finding cover when your cleaner is off sick? Wie Neu - Reinigungsfirma in Baar handles all of that for you, with employed, insured staff. Get in touch: +41 77 987 17 79 or info@wneu.ch.