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Thanks to its high quality of life, benefits, and high salaries, Switzerland continues to remain one of the most wanted destinations for job seekers.
While Switzerland has shown that it is open to hiring citizens of other countries, regardless of their field of work and nationality, the authorities point out that not the same rules apply to citizens of EU/EFTA member states working in Switzerland and to those from third countries.
Regarding the salary and other benefits, the authorities stress that everyone is equal in Switzerland, suggesting that depending on the job and the canton, everyone gets paid accordingly and receives other benefits in line with the country’s laws, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Working in Switzerland as a Citizen of EU/EFTA Member States
Due to agreements that the EU/EFTA member countries have with one another, citizens of EU/EFTA countries can enter, live, and work in Switzerland without having to undergo extended procedures.
Citizens of EU/EFTA countries can work in Switzerland for up to three months per calendar year without having to obtain a residence permit.
On the other hand, EU/EFTA citizens who receive employment in Switzerland for more than three months must apply for a residence permit from the Swiss commune they are living in before starting work.
When applying for a residence permit, EU/EFTA citizens must submit a valid identity card or passport as well as a confirmation of employment issued by the employer – a work contract.
“The residence permit is valid throughout Switzerland and allows you to change your job or employer. Its period of validity depends on the length of your employment,” the Swiss authorities stress.
Self-employed citizens of EU/EFTA countries can also work in Switzerland. However, differently from the above-mentioned, they need to register their arrival in Switzerland within 14 days and apply for a residence permit.
Working in Switzerland as a Non-EU/EFTA Citizen
Only citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries who are qualified – specialists, managers, or university graduates with several years of experience – may work in Switzerland.
All citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries are required to get a work permit, even for short-term employment.
The work permit must be obtained by the employer in Switzerland and the employer must prove that the employment of a foreigner is in the economic interest of the country.
In addition, the employer must also demonstrate that they are unable to recruit personnel in Switzerland from EU/EFTA countries when taking the necessary steps to obtain a work permit for non-EU/EFTA citizens.
“It is up to your future employer to take the necessary steps to obtain a work permit from the cantonal immigration and employment market authorities. However, if you are self-employed, it is up to you to take the necessary steps,” the authorities of Switzerland explain.
A work permit must also be obtained for self-employment, and the number of permits issued to citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries is limited.
Even though non-EU/EFTA citizens need a work permit, such a document alone does not necessarily entitle everyone to enter Switzerland. Depending on the nationality, some may also be required to obtain a visa.
Salary in Switzerland
Even though Switzerland does not have a national minimum wage, workers in Switzerland are among the most paid worldwide.
A report by OECD shows that the average annual salary in Switzerland in 2020 was around CHF 60,600 (€61,450) and points out that the average annual wage has remained steady over the last ten years.
Data shows that IT systems specialists, product managers, and account managers are some of the highest-paid professions in Switzerland.
IT system specialists in Switzerland have an annual salary of around CHF 117,000 (€118641), product managers have an annual salary of around CHF 105,000 (€106,473), and account managers have an annual salary of around 95,550 (€96,890).
Regarding the minimum wages, an initiative that wanted to introduce a minimum wage of CHF 4,000 (€4,056) per month or CHF 22 per hour was rejected by the voters in 2014.
Despite such an initiative being rejected, several cantons have introduced a canton-wide minimum wage. For example, the canton of Neuchâtel has a minimum wage of CHF 20.08 per hour, the canton of Jura has a minimum wage of CHF 20 per hour, the canton of Ticino has a minimum wage of CHF 19 per hour, and the canton of Geneva has a minimum wage of CHF 23 per hour.
This means that depending on the canton as well as on the occupation, salaries and minimum wages vary widely in Switzerland.
Working Hours & Vacation
In line with the current law that Switzerland has, employees must work a certain number of hours each week. In general, the working hours must not exceed 45 hours per week.
In cases when employees work more than required to work per week, the employer is required to pay their overtime – 25 per cent more than the normal hourly rate.
All workers in Switzerland, regardless of whether they work full or part-time, are entitled to at least four weeks of vacation per year.
Workers may be given more vacation time if the employer agrees, and they can take days or hours off for special events.
Apart from being entitled to get around four weeks of vacation per year, workers in Switzerland also have days off for public holidays. The public holidays vary from one canton to another and each canton can have up to nine public national holidays on its territory.
“If a public holiday falls on a non-working day, such as a Saturday or Sunday, you cannot redeem the holiday time during the week. If a public holiday falls during your vacation, that day does not count as a day of vacation,” the Swiss authorities explain.
Maternity Leave & Pregnancy Rights
During pregnancy, women in Switzerland have special rights in their workplace. The employer is obliged to guarantee a healthy and safe working environment for mothers and follow certain measures.
Even if the employment contract allows a working schedule of over nine hours per day, the working day of a pregnant woman cannot exceed nine hours.
The employer is also obliged to offer flexible working hours for pregnant women during the first six months of pregnancy and must offer the possibility to lie down and rest during the day in a separate room from the others.
Following the birth of the child, mothers in Switzerland are entitled to paid leave of 98 days or 14 weeks. Maternity benefit in Switzerland amounts to 80 per cent of the earnings but no more than CHF 196 a day.
In general, maternity leave begins on the day the baby is born, and the mother is not allowed to return to work in the first eight weeks after giving birth.
“If you go back to work sooner than the end of the 14th week after the birth, you lose your entitlement to any further maternity benefit. You are not allowed to return to work in the first eight weeks after the birth,” the Swiss authorities highlight.
In addition to the above-mentioned, mothers are also entitled to extend their maternity leave for another two weeks beyond the 14-week period. However, during this additional two-week period, they do not receive benefits.
Fathers are also entitled to paternity leave. The paternity leave in Switzerland lasts for two weeks, and during this period, fathers get 80 per cent of their earnings, just like mothers on their maternity leave.
Different from maternity leave, paternity leave is more flexible. Fathers can take the leave all at once or as individual days within six months after the child is born.
Other Benefits for Workers in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the employer is obliged to take out accident insurance for all its employees. The accident insurance covers accident-related medical expenses and a range of cash benefits.
Those who are unable to work due to an accident are entitled to a daily allowance corresponding to 80 per cent of their salary. Moreover, the employer must make up the difference if the daily allowance paid by the insurance is lower than 80 per cent of the salary.
In addition to the above-mentioned, workers in Switzerland are also entitled to take days off if ill. Those who are off work because they are ill will continue to be paid.
Switzerland also has a social protection system that aims to ensure an adequate standard of living for those who have retired. All workers who have made continuous payments since they were 20 until retirement and who have earned an average annual income of CHF 84,600 or more are entitled to a full pension. The maximum pension in Switzerland is around CHF 2,450 per month.
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