🇨🇭 Switzerland · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
Swiss employment is comparatively liberal under the Code of Obligations: there is no national minimum wage (a few cantons set one), dismissal is allowed with notice, and the statutory minimum holiday is four weeks. Collective agreements (GAV/CCT) apply in some sectors; social insurance (AHV/AVS) is compulsory and disputes go to the labour courts.
Swiss employment law is relatively liberal, set mainly by the Code of Obligations and sector agreements; SECO oversees working conditions.
- The Code of Obligations and collective agreements govern employment.
- There is no nationwide statutory minimum wage (a few cantons set one).
- SECO oversees working conditions and labour-market policy.
Step-by-step
- 1
Get a contract and check any GAV
You should have a written or clear employment contract; check whether a collective agreement (GAV/CCT) covers your sector and sets minimum pay.
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
There is no national minimum wage (some cantons have one); the maximum week is 45 or 50 hours depending on sector, with overtime compensation.
- 3
Understand leave entitlements
You are entitled to at least four weeks' paid holiday a year (five for under-20s), plus public holidays that vary by canton.
- 4
Register for social insurance
You contribute to old-age (AHV/AVS), disability, unemployment and occupational pension, deducted from your pay.
- 5
Know the notice and dismissal rules
Either party can end the contract with statutory notice (increasing with tenure); dismissal is generally free but abusive dismissals can be compensated.
- 6
Resolve disputes at the labour court
Bring employment claims to the cantonal labour court; small claims often have a simplified, low-cost procedure.
Checklist
- Written/clear contract + any GAV/CCT
- No national minimum wage (check canton/GAV)
- Max weekly hours (45/50) + overtime
- ≥4 weeks holiday (5 for under-20s)
- AHV/AVS + occupational pension + unemployment insurance
- Statutory notice + abusive-dismissal protection
- Anti-discrimination protections
- Dispute route (cantonal labour court)
Official authorities
- SECO
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs — labour conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum wage in Switzerland?
There is no national minimum wage, though a few cantons (e.g. Geneva, Neuchâtel) have introduced one and some collective agreements set minimum rates.
How much holiday do I get?
At least four weeks' paid holiday a year (five weeks for employees under 20).
Can I be dismissed easily?
Dismissal is generally permitted with the statutory notice period, but an abusive dismissal (e.g. discriminatory) can lead to compensation.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- ch.ch — Swiss Authorities Online — Official information portal for federal, cantonal and communal authorities
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — Visas, residence permits (B/C), and naturalisation
- Federal Tax Administration (FTA) — Federal tax and VAT (cantonal taxes are levied separately)
- EasyGov.swiss — One-stop company registration and business admin