Unemployed frontier workers: rights and access to URCs (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Unemployed frontier workers can register with the Swiss URC.
• The right is guaranteed by the European regulation on coordination.
• Registration takes place on a complementary basis with respect to the country of residence.
• The unemployment rate in Ticino stands at around 2.4%.

Key facts

• What: Enrollment in Swiss placement services
• When: Since 2012 (European regulation)
• Where: Regional Placement Offices (RPOs) in Switzerland
• Who: Unemployed frontier workers
• Unemployment status: About 2.4% in Ticino

Border workers who lose their jobs in Switzerland retain the right to register with the Swiss Regional Employment Offices (URCs) in search of a new job. This option, although little known and rarely exercised, is supported by the European Regulation on the coordination of social security schemes, in force since 2012. This legislation allows the worker to make use of Swiss services "on a complementary basis". It is essential to underline that enrolment in employment centres in one's State of residence remains the main obligation for the receipt of financial benefits, i.e. unemployment benefit. Access to Swiss URCs does not therefore replace the procedure in the country of residence, but goes hand in hand with it, offering additional support in finding a job in the territory where the worker has previously

Operational details

The access to regional placement offices (URC) is often underestimated by transnational workers. Despite the possibility being provided and regulated, in practice, there is a low adherence from workers. According to data from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the number of transnational workers registered at a placement office in all of Switzerland was very low in 2016 and 2017, with an average of 87 and 83 respectively. These numbers, when compared to the total number of active transnational workers in Ticino, highlight a discrepancy between the theoretical right and actual use of services. The common perception, fueled by union statements, is that access is not always easy, but direct checks have confirmed that the staff at URCs are ready to provide assistance to those who present themselves, such as at the Lugano office.

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Key points

For a frontaliere who is unemployed, the correct procedure requires careful management of relationships with the authorities of both countries. The absolute priority is to register with the employment center in the country of residence in Italy, which provides financial assistance. Once this formal obligation is met, the worker has the option to visit a regional employment office in Ticino to register for job search purposes. This operation, known as complementary, allows access to the databases and services offered by the Swiss system, potentially increasing the chances of finding a new job on the territory. It is advisable to personally visit the offices, such as that of Lugano, to obtain specific information about one's situation and understand which documents are needed for registration.

Evaluating a Ticino job offer? Simulate your net payslip: enter gross salary, marital status and municipality for a detailed breakdown.

Source: tvsvizzera.it