How staff leasing works
A temporary assignment involves three parties: the agency that signs your employment contract, the client company that organises your tasks, and you. This triangular relationship is governed by the Federal Employment Services Act, enforced by SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) and cantonal offices.
Sectors that rely most on temps
Construction in French-speaking Switzerland, machine manufacturing, logistics around Basel and Zurich, watchmaking in the Jura Arc and Geneva clinics make heavy use of temporary workers. Our guide to temp work in Switzerland covers each industry and the active agencies.
What the staff leasing CCT guarantees
The staff leasing collective agreement, declared generally binding by the Federal Council, covers most agencies. It provides a 13th monthly salary, at least twenty days of holiday a year, twenty-five before age 20 or from age 50, and sickness pay insurance.
Industry minimum wage or the client's CCT
When the client company is bound by its own extended CCT, for example in structural building work or construction metalwork, its minimum wages apply to the temp. Geneva, Neuchâtel and Ticino also add a statutory cantonal minimum wage on top.
Very short notice periods
Under the staff leasing CCT, the contract can be ended with two working days' notice during the first three months, seven days from the fourth to the sixth month, then one month. An assignment can therefore stop very quickly, in Lausanne as in Lugano.
Permits by nationality and length of stay
An EU or EFTA national receives an L permit for an assignment of less than a year, or a G permit if they return home every week. Non-EU nationals rarely get access to temp work: see Swiss work permits.
Temping between jobs and unemployment benefit
A person registered with the ORP job centre can accept an assignment as interim earnings: unemployment insurance then makes up part of the difference with the former insured salary. The adviser approves the conditions, as our guide to unemployment and ORP registration explains.
Occupational pensions on short assignments
Temps do not necessarily pay into the second pillar from day one: membership of the LPP occupational pension scheme depends on the expected length of the assignment, the annualised salary and the rules of the fund chosen by the agency. Always ask for the regulations.
Deductions on your payslip
Your payslip lists AVS old-age, AI disability and APG income compensation contributions, unemployment insurance, non-occupational accident insurance, sickness pay insurance and the 0.7% professional contribution set by the CCT. Cross-border commuters and L permit holders also pay tax at source.
Choosing a licensed agency
Every placement or staff leasing agency must hold a cantonal licence, plus a federal SECO licence to place workers from abroad. The public directory of licensed agencies lets you check a company name before you sign anything at all.
Turning an assignment into a permanent job
Many companies in German- and French-speaking Switzerland use the assignment as an extended trial period. The CCT governs any fees owed to the agency if the client hires you, but it cannot stop you from accepting a permanent contract offered by the client.
Temp assignment or fixed-term contract
A direct fixed-term contract signed with the employer normally cannot be terminated before its end date, unlike an assignment. To compare both options, read our page on the fixed-term contract in Switzerland and its specific rules.
Landing a first temporary assignment in Switzerland
- Check your right to work, an L, G or B permit depending on your nationality, and tell the agency your status at the first interview.
- Prepare a Swiss-format CV with a photo, languages rated on the European framework and work certificates from previous jobs.
- Register with two or three licensed agencies specialising in your field, for example construction, manufacturing, logistics or healthcare.
- Attend the agency interview with your diplomas, an identity document, your AVS number if you have one and your bank details.
- Read the framework contract and the assignment contract: hourly wage, holiday and public holiday pay, 13th salary, location and expected length.
- Check every weekly or monthly payslip and keep the timesheets signed by the client company.
Minimum wages and costs linked to temp work
| Item | Indicative amount | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled minimum wage, staff leasing CCT 2025 | about 3,825 CHF per month or 20.99 CHF per hour, indicative | High-wage regions such as the Lake Geneva area, CCT of the client's industry |
| Skilled minimum wage with CFC or AFP, CCT 2025 | about 4,660 CHF per month or 25.57 CHF per hour, indicative | Experience, canton, agreement of the client's industry |
| Geneva statutory minimum wage 2026 | 24.59 CHF gross per hour | Also applies to temps working in Geneva |
| CCT professional contribution | 0.7% of gross salary | Partly refunded to members of a signatory union |
| LAMal health insurance | Paid by you, variable premium | Canton of residence, chosen deductible, age |
| Housing during the assignment | Highly variable | Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne far more expensive than Jura or Valais |
Documents placement agencies ask for
- Passport or ID card and, if you already have one, your residence or cross-border permit
- Up-to-date Swiss CV with a photo and no unexplained gaps
- Work certificates and attestations from previous assignments
- Diplomas, CFC (Federal VET Diploma), AFP (Federal VET Certificate) or foreign qualifications with any recognition
- Professional cards and licences: forklift, aerial work platform, HGV licence, first aid at work
- Criminal record extract for security, cash transport or some clinics
- Bank details and proof of health insurance
Frequent mistakes made by temp workers
- Accepting an assignment without a written contract: the law requires a written employment contract stating pay, duration and place, and without it your rights are weakened.
- Ignoring the client company's CCT and accepting an hourly rate below the industry minimum, especially in finishing trades or cleaning.
- Paying registration fees to a so-called agency: in staff leasing, the client company pays the agency, never the worker.
- Starting work before the permit has been notified or issued, which exposes you to a fine and an entry ban.
- Forgetting to report an assignment to the ORP while unemployed, even though interim earnings must be declared every month.
Your questions about temporary work in Switzerland
Do temp workers receive a 13th salary in Switzerland?
Yes, the staff leasing CCT provides a 13th salary, often paid as an hourly supplement added to each pay run. Check that this supplement appears separately on your payslip, just like the holiday pay and the public holiday allowance.
How long can a temporary assignment last?
The law sets no general maximum length: some assignments last a few days, others several years. After a few months, the client company often offers direct employment, and the agency's notice periods lengthen with seniority.
Can you do temp work in Switzerland while living in France?
Yes, thousands of cross-border commuters work on assignments in Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel or Basel with a G permit. The agency handles the notification or permit application with the canton, and taxation depends on the canton where you work.
Are sick days paid during an assignment?
The CCT requires sickness pay insurance that in principle covers 80% of the salary after a waiting period. The length of cover depends on your situation, so ask the agency for the exact terms of its insurance policy.