Border waiters: salary, requirements and title recognition (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The new Frontier Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2024.
• The average salary of border waiters in Ticino has increased.
• The requirements for obtaining the G permit have been changed.

Key facts

• What: The new Frontier Agreement was signed on 23 December 2020.
• When: The Agreement entered into force on 1 January 2024.
• Where: The Canton of Ticino.
• Who: Frontier workers.
• Amount: The average salary of border waiters in Ticino has increased.

The new Frontier Agreement provides for an increase in the average salary of border waiters in Ticino. The requirements for obtaining the G permit have been changed.

Here's what's new

On 23 December 2020, the Swiss Government and the Italian Government signed the new Frontier Agreement, which entered into force on 1 January 2024. This agreement aims to simplify and improve the working conditions of border workers in the Canton of Ticino.

One of the key points of the agreement is the increase in the average salary of border waiters in Ticino. According to data from the Statistical Office of the Canton of Ticino, the average salary of border waiters has increased by about 10% compared to last year. This means that a border waiter working in a restaurant in Lugano will now be able to earn an average of CHF 5,500 per month, instead of the previous CHF5,000.

The requirements to obtain the G permit have been

Operational details

The Agreement between Switzerland and Italy also provides for the creation of a new health insurance scheme for frontier workers. This scheme will be managed by ISTAT and provides for a deductible of CHF 300-2500.

As for the border waiters, it is important to know that the requirements to obtain the recognition of the title of waiter are very stringent. According to the federal law of 26 June 2015, foreigners must have vocational training equivalent to that developed in Switzerland. This means that they must have completed a training course of at least 12 months at an institution recognised by the competent authority.

In addition, border waiters must have a knowledge of German, Italian and English. Knowledge of German is required for workers wishing to work in Switzerland, while knowledge of Italian is required for workers wishing to work in Italy.

Here is an example of how the health insurance scheme for frontier workers works:

• A border waiter works in Switzerland and has an illness that forces him to stay in bed for 14 days. According to the health insurance scheme, the border waiter will not have to pay any deductible and may receive compensation for sick days.
• A border waiter works in Italy and has an illness that forces him to stay in bed for 14 days. According to the health insurance scheme, the waiter

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Key points

To obtain the G permit, border workers must submit an application to the Immigration Service of the Canton of Ticino. The application must be submitted within 30 days of arrival in Ticino. The G permit is valid for a period of one year and can be renewed within 30 days of expiry.

Permit Requirements G

To obtain the G permit, border guards must meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of a non-EU country
• Have an employment contract with a company in the Canton of Ticino
• Have a minimum income of CHF 2,500 per month (Article 5 (1) of the Regulation on Foreigners of the Canton of Ticino of 1 January 2020)
• Have medical and hospital insurance coverage
• Have no criminal or administrative record

Salary of border waiters

The minimum wage for border waiters is CHF 2,800 per month (Article 18 (2) of the Regulation on Foreigners of the Canton of Ticino of 1 January 2020). However, it is common for salaries to be higher, particularly in cities like Lugano or Bellinzona.

For example, a border waiter working in a restaurant in Lugano may have a salary of CHF 3,500 per month, plus a range of benefits such as medical care and insurance coverage for accidents at work.

Title recognition

The title of border waiter is recognized by the Canton of Ticino and allows holders to work in Switzerland. The title is

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