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Switzerland Information · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 18 Home Country: switzerland

EMPLOYMENT IN SWITZERLAND (Getting a Job)

JOB MARKET

For most foreigners, Switzerland appears to be a paradise for working conditions. Swiss employees enjoy some of the highest salaries in the world. Despite widespread job losses in Switzerland during the early 1990s recession, unemployment is still among the lowest in Europe.

Regarding the employment of foreigners, Switzerland is known for restrictive immigration policies and work permit quotas. Even though the system may seem complicated at first glance, finding a job in Switzerland isn’t as difficult as official Swiss policy may lead you to believe. And the good news is that, according to Swiss law, foreign workers have to be employed under the same salaries and work conditions as Swiss citizens.

In reality, the number of foreigners working in Switzerland has increased continuously during the last decade. In Switzerland, there are now over 1.5 million foreigners resident in the country. This adds up to some 20% of the total population and a significant contribution to the country’s economic success story.

From 2002, a Swiss/EU bilateral agreement guarantees the free movement of EU citizens in Switzerland. There are some provisions and quotas that remain until 2007, but basically this agreement facilitates entry, residence and employment in Switzerland. After 2007, a European citizen will have complete freedom of employment in Switzerland. At the same time, requirements for non-EU-citizens wishing to work in Switzerland have become stricter.

When looking for a job, it is important to bear in mind that there are significant regional differences in the Swiss labour market. Geneva is the area with the highest percentage of foreign workers (almost 50%) - many work in one of the international institutions, such as the U.N., based there. The banking industry is centred mainly in and around Zurich.

Languages

As in any foreign country, speaking the local language is a definitive advantage. For your job search, consider the main local language in the area where you wish to work. Switzerland has four official languages: German (spoken by 64% of the population), French (19%), Italian (8%) and Rhaeto-Roman (1%). If you’re aiming to work in an international institution or large multinational company, much of the work may be conducted in English with other non-Swiss nationals. However, for national or smaller Swiss companies, you will almost certainly be required to have a basic command of the local language. The level of language required will depend on the nature of the position and what sort of work you will be doing.

If you’re a native English-speaker, don’t expect this to be a big advantage in the job market (unless you want to teach it, of course). The Swiss are a very polyglot nation and many happily speak at least two of the national languages and English.

Recognition of diplomas

Many professions and jobs in Switzerland are regulated and/or require some formal qualifications. For many trades and professions, foreign qualifications are recognized as equivalent if the training is similar to the Swiss qualification. Swiss/EU agreements meant that Switzerland now recognizes most EU diplomas and qualifications.

FINDING A JOB

There are many ways and places to look for a job in Switzerland. Many can be contacted even before you arrive. Below are some of the more effective Swiss resources for searching for employment.

Newspapers & Magazines: Job offers (Stellenmarkt - offres d’emploi) can be found in the classified sections of daily newspapers (often in the issues on Wednesdays and at the weekend), in weekly newspapers, monthly magazines (city magazines) and specialized trade magazines and journals. A wide range of job offers can be found in the newspaper Le Temps, 24heures and Tagesanzeiger and in the official Confederation’s vacancy bulletin. For a fee, you can also place a situation wanted advertisement in many job sections, although you may find this quite ineffective.

Internet: Online recruitment websites (Jobsbörsen - sites web d’emploi) allow you to make customised job-searches where you can specify the sector and even the region where you wish to work. Among the countless active job-hunting websites, there is an increasing number of sites with an interactive research option (online posting of CV, standard letters of application, job mailer, etc.). Today, the Internet is one the most widely used ways to look for work in Switzerland.

Employment agencies: Employment agencies play an important role in the Swiss recruitment market. However, many agencies only work with candidates that are Swiss citizens or foreigners with a B or C residence permit. An employment agency cannot apply for a residence and work permit on your behalf; this can only be done by a prospective employer.

Career fairs: A good way to get on overview of the Swiss job market is to visit a career fair. Fairs usually host a range of employers, often concentrating on a specific sector or industry. For many fairs, you have to apply in advance by sending in your CV. Employers will then get the CVs in advance and decide on whom they want to meet. Besides getting general information on employment perspectives in different companies, it is often also possible to arrange interview in advance.

Speculative applications: If you are interested in working in a specific company, you can also send a speculative application. This should be addressed to the person responsible for recruitment of the head of the human resources department (Personalabteilungsleite - Directeur de Ressources Humaines). Some personnel departments file these applications, and if job positions become available they check these applications before advertising the position or contacting state employment offices. A list of the 2000 largest Swiss companies is available in Top 2000, a book published by Handelszeitung (also available on CD Rom).

Chambers of Commerce: You can also contact the office of the chamber of commerce of your home country in Switzerland (if there is one). Chambers of commerce sometimes receive requests from companies trying to fill out a position with someone from a specific country, and some even have a database of open job positions.

EU CITIZENS SEARCHING FOR JOBS

For job searches up to 3 months, EU citizens don’t need a residence or work permit. If your search lasts longer, you have to apply for a residence permit for another 3 months. These permits are not subject to quotas and provide no access to the Swiss social security system. As an EU citizen, you can also use some search options that are not available to other nationalities.

State employment agencies: While you are still a job-seeker, you have the same right to assistance by the employment agencies as Swiss citizens. In order to get that assistance, you have to register at the regional employment office (ORP - Office Régional de Placement).

EURES:The EURES network is a partnership between the state employment services in the EU (European Union) / EEA (European Economic Area) to support free movement of workers. Switzerland has joined the EURES network. The network facilitates the circulation of vacancies and enables access of up-to-date information on living and working conditions in each EU/EEA member state via a computer network.

The EURES network has 500 specially trained staff throughout the EU/EEA who administer the EURES system. These ‘Euroadvisers’ specialize in the practical issues surrounding employment in the member states, and can assist workers and employees who wish to start a career abroad and help companies and employers to find suitable employees from all over the EU/EEA.

More information and vacancies on the EURES system can be found on the EURES website: www.europa.eu.int/eures.

QUALIFICATIONS

Many jobs in Switzerland are subject to regulation and can require some formal qualifications. Foreign qualifications are recognized in many trades and professions, as long as the training is similar to the equivalent Swiss qualification.

The European Union uses a common system for the recognition of diplomas across its member states. The content and duration of the training must be comparable for a diploma from one country to be recognized as equivalent in another. Switzerland has adopted this system.

For some professions (such as medical professions and architects), recognition of qualifications is virtually automatic. In other cases, the Swiss authorities may compare training and professional experience with its requirements and, in some circumstances, refuse to recognize diplomas as being equivalent.

The first thing to do is to find out whether or not the profession that you want to practice is regulated in Switzerland. Professions are considered to be regulated if practicing them is dependent on a diploma, certificate or other formal qualifications. If a profession is not regulated, there is no need to check the equivalences of qualifications - a work permit is sufficient. For example, anyone can work as an office clerk or baker in Switzerland. In these cases, the employer decides how to judge applications from individuals with different qualifications. Depending on what positions you are applying for, you might find it helps potential employers if you explain you qualifications or note a Swiss equivalent in your CV.

First point of contact for EU citizens

The first point of contact for applicants from EU/EFTA countries in Switzerland is the National Contact Office in the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology. It provides information on the regulated professions affected by the agreement and refers people to the authorization authorities.

The system of diploma recognition in the EU (Switzerland/EU/EFTA countries) is based on three types of directive:

* Sector directives: Medical and paramedical professions and architects.

* General directives: Mainly professions requiring a university education or apprenticeship.

* Transitional directives: Mainly professions in industry, trade, commerce, the service industry and crafts.

Automatic recognition of diplomas

There are sector directives guaranteeing ‘automatic recognition’ of diplomas for seven professions: doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons, pharmacists, nursing staff in general care, midwives and architects.Automatic recognition, however, only refers to basic training. Even if recognition is more or less guaranteed, applicants wishing to practice one of the seven regulated professions in Switzerland must apply for authorization and submit their diplomas to prove that these are entitled to automatic recognition.

Checklist for applications

The National Contact Office in the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology will refer you the authority in charge of determining the equivalence of your diploma.

For your application, you should have all important papers translated into one of the national languages or Switzerland, in some cases these translations may need to be notarized.Only submit copies of originals, never the originals themselves. Even though the exact requirements depend on your profession and types of qualification, you will probably need some or all of the following documents:

* application form – correctly and fully completed
* copy of passport or ID card
* diploma
* proof of professional experience
* a character reference, health certificate, certificate of good conduct
* proof of solvency

WORKING CONDITIONS

Switzerland has a very high costs of living when compared with countries in the European Union, but also relatively high levels of pay. However, be prepared to work a lot for your money!

Most surveys estimate that salaries (Gehalt - salaires) for both skilled and unskilled workers in Switzerland are generally two or three times higher than in most other European countries. According to an international comparative study conducted by UBS in 2000, the Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva are two of the cities with the highest gross pay in the world, for all types of professions.

A survey carried out by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office in 2001 showed the average monthly income of a Swiss household as CHF 8,797 (€5,700 at the exchange rate at that time). At first glance, these figures may seem high, but they include the household's total income (wages, pensions, private income, interest, assets, etc.).

Based on an average of all fields, real wages have increased very little since the beginning of the 1990s.Pay levels vary greatly according to the different economic areas. In certain sectors, such as finance and insurance, wages are significantly higher than in others.

Determining your salary

Working out what an appropriate salary for your profession can be a challenge in Switzerland. The Swiss don’t like to talk about money and salaries and salaries aren’t commonly quoted in job advertisements.

In most cases, salaries are negotiable and it’s up to you to make sure that you receive an appropriate salary for your qualifications and experience. However, you need to bear in mind that in Switzerland wages are established according to the principle of seniority. Many Swiss companies are reluctant to pay a young person (e.g. around 30) a top salary, irrespective of their qualifications or experience.

Minimum salaries exist in all trades and professions. During the last decade, employers in both the public and private sectors have increasingly adopted performance-related pay systems.

Despite the fact that Swiss employers are legally required to pay equal wages to men and women, on average women’s wages are lower than those of their male counterparts, regardless of qualifications or experience.

Salaries are usually reviewed once a year in November or December, with pay rises taking effect from 1st January of the following year. Most employers pay out a 13th monthly salary payment in December.

Working hours

Your working hours (Arbeitsstunden - horaire de travail) depend on your employer, your job and the industry you work in. They are usually stated in your employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag - contrat de travail).

Swiss law fixes the maximumwork time to 45 hours per week for industrial workers, office personnel, technical personnel and other employees, including sales personnel in large-scale retail. For all other workers, the limit is fixed at 50 hours.

In 2002, in Swiss companies the average working week was 41.5 hours (key labour market data published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office). However, in some industries the working hours can top 60 hours/week.

Whatever industry you work in, you might have to adjust to longer working hours in Switzerland than you are used to at home. The Swiss believe in long working hours (maybe that need some justification for all the money they’re earning) and have voted against reducing the working week on many occasions.

Flexible time management

Many Swiss employers allow people to work flexible hours (Gleitzeit - horaire flexible), especially in manufacturing industries. The day is then divided into different blocks, which are shifted between employees. A block can start at 7.00 am (which isn’t early by Swiss standards).

In principle, your employer can use any type of flexible time management. However, they must respect legal requirements (time off, breaks, official holidays, days off per week, ban on night shifts and work on Sundays, etc.). The employer must also consult workers before planning schedules and take into account the workers’ needs wherever possible.

Overtime

Overtime (Überstunden - heures supplémentaires) is defined as the hours exceeding the agreed amount of working hours (while remaining below the maximum weekly amount of work determined by the Labour Act). It is normally paid at 125% of the normal rate or compensated in the form of time off in lieu. If you have a managerial position, you probably won’t [spam word detected] extra or receive extra holidays.

Annual leave

Swiss law guarantees workers the right to holiday leave; the minimum amount required by law is:

* four weeks for workers and apprentices over 20 years old
* five weeks for workers and apprentices up to 20 years old

This minimum length of holiday may be extended through contractual agreements. Most companies only offer a fifth week of vacation to employees who have attained a certain number of years of service and/or having reached a certain age.

The length of holiday in excess of the legal minimum can be reduced in the event that the worker is unable to work for an extended period of time because of illness, takes non-paid vacation, etc.

As a general rule, annual leave must be granted during the corresponding year of service and must include at least two consecutive weeks. You will be paid your full salary for during holidays. For as long as the employment relationship continues, holiday cannot be replaced by payment or other benefits.


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