The social security in Switzerland (in German Sozialversicherungen) includes several public and private insurance plans to assist the welfare of the population.[1]
Constitutional principles[edit]
The basic principles of social insurance are found in Articles 111 to 114 and Articles 116 and 117 of the Swiss Federal Constitution.
Article 111 defines the so-called "three-pillar principle", which regulates the structure of retirement, survivors', and disability benefits. Article 112 provides the basis for the old-age, survivors', and disability insurance, in Article 113 that of occupational pensions. Article 114 regulates the basis of the unemployment insurance; provisions for family allowances and maternity insurance are laid down in Article 116. Finally, in Article 117 sickness and accident insurance is regulated by constitutional law.
The old-age and survivors' insurance (Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung - AHV), together with the disability insurance (Invalidenversicherung - IV) and supplementary benefits, forms the first (state) pillar of the Swiss three-pillar system and serves to adequately safeguard the need for subsistence.
Financing[edit]
Social insurance is mostly financed by direct deductions from individual wages. The contributions are based on an individual's income. They are carried "on a parity basis," half by employers and half by employees. The only exception is health insurance, where income-independent head premiums are paid. In addition, there are also contributions from the public sector, for example old age pensions and disability pensions are financed by 5% from tobacco tax.
Individual types of social security[edit]
Social security insurance was introduced in Switzerland in 1948.[2]
Social security services in Switzerland includes:
- Unemployment insurance (German: Arbeitslosenversicherung, ALV; French: Assurance-chômage, AC; Italian: Assicurazione contro la disoccupazione, AD), normally directly deducted from salary if resident is employed
- Income compensations (German: Erwerbsersatzordnung, EO; French: allocations pour perte de gain, APG)
- Family allowances (German: Familienzulagen, French: allocations familiales)
- Disability insurance (German: Invalidenversicherung, IV; French: Assurance-invalidité, AI; Italian: Assicurazione Invalidità, AI) normally directly deducted from salary if resident is employed
- Accident insurance (German: Unfallversicherung, French: assurance-accidents)
- Health insurance (German: Krankenversicherung; Italian: Assicurazione malattia) - compulsory for nearly all residents
- Pension funds
- First pillar: state insurance (German: Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung, AHV; French: Assurance-vieillesse et survivants, AVS)
- Second pillar: professional insurance (German: Berufliche Vorsorge, French: prévoyance professionnelle)
- third pillar: personal insurance (German: 3. Säule, French: 3ème pilier)
- Social assistance (German: Sozialhilfe; French: aide sociale; Italian: assistenza sociale)
- Additional services
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Bonvin, Jean-Michel, Gobet, Pierre, Rossini, Stéphane, Tabin, Jean-Pierre. (2011). Manuel de politique sociale. Lausanne: Réalités sociales et éésp.
- ^ "Health and welfare". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
External links[edit]
- Insurances and social security in Switzerland
- Social insurance for foreign nationals
- Social security in Switzerland (Federal Social Insurance Office)
- Social security in Switzerland (brochure)
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