Working Conditions in Switzerland
Permits
EU citizens can work 90 working days per year without working permit. Submission of a notification form to the cantonal authorites where the work takes place is required. Please consult regulations. 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 6 AM + 25%
- Overtime between 51th and 59th hour + 25%
- Overtime after the 60th hour + 100%
- Within the whole contract duration, hours can be compensated.
Ex: If an electrician works 54h in week you have to either pay him 5h overtime (4h plus 25%) or you can have him work only 45h in the following week.
- There is a minimum average 11 hours lay-over time required between end of shooting and start of next shooting day. Normally it should be 11h but may be, with approval of the crew, reduced to a minimum of 8h.
- If shooting takes place outside residence, travel time over 30 min each way accounts to work time. Overseas or long travels account to 50% work time.
- Transporting people or material in a production vehicle is work time.
- Lunchbreak: usually 60 min, but can be reduced to 45 min. by production. If the break is less than 30mins it will also be work time.
Rates
Consult the official list (2016, PDF) and have a look at the standard contract regulations (2020, PDF).
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: 10.25%
- Accident: 1.5 - 2.0% depending on the job
- Personal Pensions: 12%
- Unemployment Insurance: 2.2 %
+ Vacations: 8.33%, below 20 and above 50 years of age: 10.6% to be paid fully by employer
Allowances
- Breakfast: CHF 10 (without receipt)
- Lunch: CHF 32 (without receipt)
- Dinner: CHF 32 (without receipt)
- Laundry if outside normal residence: daily 7.50 CHF
Per diems for outside Switzerland are to be negotiated.
Actor's Rates
Usually around 1'500 - 2'500 CHF
Extras
CHF 50 for half a day. CHF 80 — 100 per day, depending on job.
Up to CHF 200 for featured extras
Sources of Information
- SSFV: Swiss Syndicate of Film Technicians: www.ssfv.ch
- Swiss Films Links: www.swissfilms.ch/en/links
- Film Location Switzerland: www.filmlocation.ch