Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Social security and insurance

Switzerland has concluded international social security agreements with 44 countries, aimed primarily at ensuring equal treatment for both sides, determining which legislation is applicable, and paying benefits abroad. Switzerland and Hong Kong have not signed a social security agreement.

Social security system

Switzerland and mainland China signed a social security agreement on 7 June 2017. However, the agreement does not cover Hong Kong.

This is why the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) system is the predominant scheme that helps people with low incomes to cover their basic expenses.

Retirement benefits

Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)

The pension fund of Hong Kong is mandatory for all (self-)employed persons aged 18 to 65. This includes foreign nationals employed without a permanent residence permit. There are 19 trustees that offer an MPF pension scheme. The employer is responsible for registering the employee with the MPF, determining their gross income each month and declaring it to the state. 'Gross income' here is the sum of wages, salaries, bonuses, holiday pay and allowances. The employee's departure from the MPF must also be reported.

Employers who forget to register their employee(s) or pay out contributions incorrectly or too late and do not report gross income face fines or imprisonment.

The picture shows Hong Kong and its buildings from a bird's eye view. — A bird's eye view of Hong Kong and its buildings. © Unsplash

Health and accident insurance

Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO)

The ECO lays down minimum standards for accident insurance for employees. Every employer must comply with them. The given employment contracts are void if these standards are not met. If an occupational accident occurs or if an employee falls sick with a work-related illness listed in the ECO, the employer is obliged to pay the employee no less than the rates specified in the ECO. Work-related deaths, total and partial temporary and permanent disability, and payment of certain medical expenses are also covered by these regulations.

Occupational pension scheme

There are two other types of insurance for persons with a permanent residence permit:

the CSSA in the case of insufficient income
the SSA for old age and disability

Unemployment insurance

The CSSA scheme for low-income citizens is the only social security scheme for unemployment. However, for jobseekers over 40, there is the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM), which focuses on helping jobseekers in middle adulthood find a job. During the training period, jobseekers can receive a retention allowance of USD 1,000 per month (for full-time work) for a maximum of 12 months.

Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance (OASI) and invalidity insurance (IV)

Payment of ordinary pensions

Ordinary OASI and IV pension payments (except quarter pensions under the IV scheme) for Swiss nationals can be transferred to their place of residence anywhere in the world. The pension is paid out directly by the Swiss compensation office, generally in the currency of the country of residence. You may also choose to have your benefits paid into a personal postal or bank account in Switzerland. Helplessness allowances and supplementary benefits are only paid if you are resident in Switzerland.

Voluntary OASI/IV

Swiss nationals who do not live in an EU/EFTA member state may join the voluntary OASI/IV scheme if they had compulsory insurance cover for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to their departure. Enrolment in the Swiss voluntary OASI/IV system does not exempt you from enrolling in a compulsory insurance system in your country of residence or employment. Employed persons contribute 10.1% of their salary to the pension fund. The minimum annual contribution is CHF 950. The voluntary OASI/IV system offers protection against the risks of old age, disability and death, in particular to persons who are not gainfully employed and who in many cases are not entitled to join a foreign social security scheme.

Special provisions for people employed by a Swiss company

Special provisions apply to persons who live abroad and are employed and on the payroll of an employer based in Switzerland and to their accompanying spouses abroad provided they are not gainfully employed. For further information, please contact your OASI office.

OASI pensioners (1st pillar) and pension fund beneficiaries (2nd pillar)

Make sure that pension payments from your old-age and survivors' insurance (OASI), your pension fund or other insurance policies you have taken out are being properly transferred to you. Whenever you change your address, you must inform the OASI compensation office, your pension fund and insurance provider. The Swiss Compensation Office (SCO) sends all persons who are receiving benefits a certificate of life and marital status form each year. To ensure uninterrupted payment of your pension, please return the form to the SCO within 90 days, duly endorsed by your local authority, or any other officially recognised administration.

Taxation of pension fund income

Switzerland imposes a withholding tax on pension fund income if the beneficiary resides abroad. Double taxation agreements sometimes allow the withholding tax to be waived or to be reclaimed by the pension recipient in their country of residence.

Social assistance for Swiss citizens abroad

In certain circumstances, the FDFA's Social Assistance Service for the Swiss Abroad (SAS) provides social assistance to Swiss nationals living abroad who have run into financial difficulty. If you find yourself in financial distress, you must first make every effort to manage with your own resources. If you really cannot manage on your own, you should try to get financial help from your family or from friends or acquaintances. You should also find out what social assistance or other support you can receive from the authorities in your country of residence. Support from the SAS should be a measure of last resort.