Situation regarding Swiss social welfare insurance scheme of staff of Philippine nationality employed locally by permanent missions and of staff recruited locally by a permanent mission of the Philippines
On 1st March 2004, the Social security agreement between Switzerland and the Philippines (fr) entered into force. The situation of Filipino nationals employed as local staff by a permanent mission and of the local staffs employed by the permanent mission of the Philippines has thus changed. These modifications have the consequences described in this information note.
The present note is directed solely at:
- Local staff of Philippine nationality recruited by a permanent mission and holder of a legitimation card "E" or of a permit B or C;
- Local staff, regardless of nationality, recruited by a permanent mission of the Philippines and holder of a legitimation card "E", "R" or of a permit B or C.
The local staff recruited are not considered as career members of personnel that can be transferred.
The situation regarding social welfare insurance scheme of other staff recruited locally by permanent missions is described in information notes published on this Website:
- information note for the States members of the European Union (EU)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and of the Switzerland working for a permanent mission of a member State of the EU or the EFTA (only in French);
- information note for the other persons.
Swiss social welfare insurance
The term “Swiss social welfare insurance” is understood to mean the following insurances:
- Old age and survivors’ insurance (AVS)
- Invalidity insurance (AI)
- Compensation fund for loss of income because of service or maternity leave (APG)
- Unemployment insurance (AC)
These insurances make up an indivisible whole.
Paternity allowance:
As of 1 January 2021, paternity leave came into effect at the federal level. The paternity allowance, which is paid to the father in the form of daily benefit, is financed by contributions to cover loss of income (APG). Working fathers who are insured with the Swiss social insurance system and who meet the specified conditions are entitled, upon request, to receive a paternity allowance for 2 weeks from the date of birth of their child.
More information is available on the website of the “Office cantonal genevois des assurances sociales” (OCAS (fr)).
Canton of Geneva also has maternity insurance (AMat) under which persons covered by AVS/AI/APG/AC are mandatory insured.
The Federal Social Insurance Office Website (OFAS) has ample information on the subject. The Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office (only in French) Website has more information on the AMat.
Local staff member of Philippine nationality recruited by a permanent mission of a State mentioned below (with a card "E" or a permit B/C)
The employee of Philippine nationality recruited locally by a permanent mission of one of the following States:
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Liechtenstein
- Macedonia
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
is subject to mandatory coverage by AVS/AI/APG/AC unless he/she has exercised a right to be covered by the social legislation of the State of the employer. This right must be exercised within three months from the commencement of employment.
The employer must take the necessary steps to register the employee for AVS/AI/APG/AC at the Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office or by the social security system of the employer’s State. The employer must contribute to the payment of premiums.
In the event of registration with the social security system of the employer’s State, the employee, assisted by his employer, must make a request for exemption and present an original insurance certificate to the Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office.
Local staff member of Philippine nationality recruited by a permanent mission of another State (with a card "E" or a permit B/C)
The employee of Philippine nationality recruited locally by a permanent mission of another state than the ones mentioned above is subject to mandatory coverage by AVS/AI/APG/AC, unless he/she is insured in another State (e.g. by the social security of the State of the employer or by Philippine social security).
In principle the employee must take the necessary steps him/herself to register for AVS/AI/APG/AC at the Compensation Fund Office of his/her canton of residence, or the Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office if he/she resides in France. He/she must in principle assume the payment of premiums.
If he/she is part of the social security system of another State, the employee must request exemption and present an original insurance certificate to the Compensation Fund Office of his/her canton of residence, or the Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office if he/she resides in France. This rule is only valid for the persons holders of a card "E"; the persons holders of a permit B/C must mandatory be insured in Switzerland.
The employer therefore is released of his responsibility to see that his/her employee is registered; the employer may however undertake to do this voluntarily and contribute to premium payments.
Local staff member recruited by a permanent mission of the Philippines (with a card "E","S","R" or a permit B/C)
The employee, regardless of his/her nationality, recruited locally by a permanent mission of the Philippines is subject to mandatory coverage by AVS/AI/APG/AC, unless he/she exercises a right to be insured under Philippine social legislation. The right must be exercised within six months of the commencement of employment.
The employer must take the necessary steps to register the employee for AVS/AI/APG/AC at the Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office or with the social security system of the Philippines. The employer must contribute to the payment of premiums.
In the event of coverage by the Philippine social security system, the employee, assisted by his employer, must make a request for exemption and present an original insurance certificate to the Geneva Cantonal Compensation Fund Office.
Canton of Vaud
Each commune in Canton Vaud has a social service responsible for registration with the AVS/AI/APG/AC and which transmits the request for registration or exemption to the
Other insurances
The local employee who is registered for coverage under AVS/AI/APG/AC, must mandatory be registered for a professional provident fund (LPP) if he/she is receiving a gross salary equal to or higher than CHF 22,050.- a year or CHF 1,837.50 a month. The employee, working for an employer who is not responsible to register him/her, can register for LPP on a voluntary basis.
The local employee can cover him/herself voluntarily with health and accident insurance in Switzerland or abroad. N.B. Expenses for medical costs and hospitalisation for service staff holder of a legitimation card "E" are the responsibility of the permanent missions in accordance with the "Declaration of guarantee" signed for this purpose.
