Work and Salary
The rights and duties of the employer and the employee are regulated in various laws. In addition, the employer and the employee conclude a contract (Arbeitsvertrag). A verbal employment contract is also valid, but it is better if the contract is in writing. For certain professions (e.g., cleaning, catering, construction, gardening) there is a GAV = Collective Labour Agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag), which stipulates the minimum wage and other conditions.
Many employers for whom you do housework, care, cleaning, gardening etc. have little experience with laws and contracts themselves. That is why the canton has prescribed the working conditions and minimum wages in a NAV = Standard Employment Contract (Normalarbeitsvertag). In addition, there are further aids for employers in private households to ensure that they pay AHV, insurance for accidents etc. correctly.
Actually, the employer has to record the working hours and give them to you to sign every month. If the employer does not do this, it is important that you write down on which day you worked how many hours and what kind of work it was.
A lot of employers don’t follow the law, and the law is complicated. Become a member of the IGA (or another trade union with good advice). Together we will fight for your rights!
Templates for contracts
- for domestic workers on monthly wages (yellow) and on hourly wages (red)
- Minimum contract for all employment relationships (green)
Recording working hours (Arbeitszeiterfassung)
Trade union
- IGA leaflet on employment relationships in the home
