The Swiss Federal Council has passed a new ordinance setting the new minimum wage for domestic helpers in Switzerland effective 1 January 2011.

The salient points of the new law are as follows:

- The new minimum wage per hour for domestic helpers are the following: Sfr18.50 (US$20) for workers without experience, Sfr20.00 (US$21) for those workers with 5 years experience but no professional training, and Sfr22.00 (US$24) for workers with Swiss-approved professional training.

- The new law applies only to private domestic helpers who are employed for a minimum of 5 hours a week by the same employer. Excluded from the rule are grandparents, spouse, registered concubines, partners and employees whose main job is childcare, including babysitters and nannies.

- All cantons on Switzerland, except Geneva, will be required to adopt the minimum wage by 31 December 2013. Geneva has an existing minimum wage ordinance which is slightly higher than the Federal scale.

Prior to the passage of this new ordinance, Switzerland does not prescribe minimum wage regulation for domestic helpers. The Swiss law does not allow minimum wages except under exceptional circumstances, such as repeated salary abuse in a particular sector. Wages are often set by collective agreements and standard employment contracts in accordance with the Swiss Code of Obligations.

For the information and guidance of all concerned.

(SGD.) JENNIFER JARDIN-MANALILI
  Administrator