Working while unpaid leave

Coffee
1

Hi!

I am considering heading back to my home country for some time (1year?) for family reasons. Assuming my current employer grants me a 1year unpaid leave, would it be possible for me to get a work in my home country, and eventually come back after a year?

Did anyone face something like that? Of course, there are a lot of other topics involved, like what happens with the health insurance, taxes, and probably others that I might forget.

2
  • During long-term unpaid leave, you (and your employer) are released from obligatory occupational insurance (accident insurance, pension fund, etc.).
  • When you move your residence outside of Switzerland, you are released from residency-based obligatory social insurances (AHV, compulsory health insurance, etc).

At the same time, if your new country of residence is in EFTA or the EU, you will generally be required to participate in social insurance there.

So essentially, the only connection you have to Switzerland is an open employment contract, but without sufficient income or work hours to require participation in Swiss occupational insurances, and without residency in Switzerland to require participation in Swiss social insurances.

Meanwhile your secondary employment (in your country of residence) and your status as a resident in your new country would generally qualify you for obligatory occupational and social insurances in that country).

3

That makes sense. Any idea on how this interferes with holding the C-permit? Should I eventually “freeze” it then?

4

If you want to keep it, you will need to freeze it.

Also check that your employer is ok with you working during your leave (you still have a contract with them and have some obligations).

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5

Yes, you have to announce you’re outside the country for more than six months. If you fail to do so, your C- permit is canceled.

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