Working Conditions in Switzerland

Permits

EU citizens are treated as equal. Other citizens need a working permit.

Working Hours

• A week consists of 50 hours
• A day's work has to be completed in 14 hours including breaks, though negotiations with crew is possible.
• Night time: between 11 PM and 5 AM + 25%
• Overtime between 50th and 59th hour + 25%
• Overtime after the 60th hour + 100%
• Within the whole week or the whole contract duration, hours can be compensated.
  Ex: 1 electrician works 15 hours a day but only 5 hours the day after. However, the extra hours are to be compensated at 125%.

• There is a 10 hours lay-over time required between end of shooting and start of next shooting day.
• If shooting takes place outside residence, travel time accounts to work time. Overseas or long travels account to 50% work time.
• Lunchbreak: usually 60 min, but can be reduced to 45 min. by production.

Rates

For guidelines please consult the attached list (PDF) in French and German, and have a look into the corresponding contract in German or French.

Social Benefits

Every employee is entitled to the following benefits (percentage based on gross salary):

To be split 50-50% between employer and employee:

• National Pension Scheme: 10.5%
• Accident: 1.5 - 2.0% depending on the job
• Personal Pensions: 12%, only for total wages of 12'000 CHF and over.
• Unemployment Insurance: 2 %

+ Vacations: 8.33%, below 20 and above 50 years of age: 10.6% to be paid fully by employer

Allowances

• Lunch: CHF 30 (against receipt), CHF 26 (without receipt)
• Dinner: CHF 35 (against receipt), CHF 26 (without receipt)
• Laundry if outside normal residence: daily 7.50 CHF

Per diems for outside Switzerland are to be negotiated.

Actor's Rates

Minimum: CHF 1000 per day. Usually around 2000 - 2'500 CHF

Extras

CHF 50 for half a day. CHF 100 — 200 per day, depending on job.

Sources of Information

• SSFV: Swiss Syndicate of Film Technicians: www.ssfv.ch
• Swiss Film Institutions: www.filmnet.ch
• Film Location Switzerland: www.filmlocation.ch/