Apprenticeship in the Canton of Graubünden: internship and maturity

Context

In brief

• Swiss apprenticeship combines school teaching and company practice, regulated by AFC (federal) and cantons
• Maximum hours 45-50 per week, minimum holidays 4 weeks (5 if underage)
• Apprentice pays AVS/AI/IPG at 5.3%, no federal minimum wage
• Professional maturity can be achieved in parallel or after, with national recognition

Key facts

• What: Dual vocational training system (company + vocational school)
• Who regulates: AFC (Federal Office for Vocational Education and Training), cantonal administrations, municipalities
• Duration: 2-4 years according to the vocational training order
• Maximum hours: 45 hours/week (industry, offices, sales), 50 hours (other sectors)
• Pension contributions: AVS/AI/IPG 5.3% employee (total 10.6% with employer)
• Minimum holidays: 4 weeks per year (5 for under 20)
• Minimum wage: None federal, set by canton/sector/company

The federal and cantonal system

The apprenticeship in Switzerland is a vocational training path that combines school teaching and work practice in a company. It is regulated at the federal level by the Federal Office for Vocational Education and Training (AFC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and at the cantonal level by the competent local administrations. In the Canton of Graubünden, as in all cantons, the competence for vocational training remains in the hands of the cantonal administration, which authorizes the training companies and registers the apprentices with the vocational schools.

Each canton follows common national principles to ensure the federal recognition of diplomas and the mobility of workers throughout Switzerland. The general structure provides for a training contract between the apprentice, the training company, and the vocational school, typically lasting between 2 and 4 years.

Rights and obligations during the apprenticeship

During the apprenticeship, the apprentice is entitled to protections guaranteed by federal labor laws:

• Maximum hours: 45 hours per week (industry, offices, commerce) or 50 hours (agriculture, tourism, and other sectors)
• Minimum holidays: 4 weeks per year (5 weeks if underage at the start of the apprenticeship)
• Progressive remuneration: Usually increases every year; amounts set by collective labor agreements or company agreements
• Protection from violation: Any agreement with hours or holidays below the legal minimum is null and void

Apprentice social security

As an employee, the apprentice must pay social security contributions. AVS/AI/IPG (old-age, disability, loss of earnings compensation) amount to 5.3% of gross salary; the employer pays the total 10.6%. Unemployment insurance (AD) and accidents (AC) correspond to 1.1% up to an annual maximum. Health insurance and accidents (LAINF) range from 0.7–1.5% depending on the sector.

These contributions are mandatory and ensure pension coverage in the Swiss system. There is no federal minimum wage for apprentices; the salary level is determined by the canton of residence, the professional sector, and the training company. Consult the vocational training office of the Canton of Graubünden for specific amounts practiced in the region.

Vocational school and federal orders

The theoretical training takes place at cantonal vocational schools, usually 1-2 days a week or in intensive blocks. The programs follow federal initial vocational training orders (OPI), which set skills, content, and national standards recognized. The school covers both professional subjects and general culture (languages, mathematics, history, law). Enrollment in the school occurs automatically after registering the training contract with the cantonal authorities.

Operational details

The apprenticeship contract: essential elements

The apprenticeship contract is a legal document that regulates the relationship between the apprentice, the company, and the cantonal administration. It must contain specific information: the total duration of the apprenticeship (e.g., 3 years), the tasks and skills to be acquired, the monthly salary (gross salary), working days and holidays, the probationary period (usually 1-3 months), and early termination clauses. Both parties — the apprentice (or parent/guardian if a minor) and the company — must sign the contract in the presence of a notary or at the competent cantonal authority.

The apprentice's salary varies considerably depending on the sector (construction, healthcare, commerce, craftsmanship), the canton, and the company. Since there is no federal minimum wage for apprentices in Switzerland, the canton of residence plays a crucial role: some cantons have set regional minimum wages, while others leave it to negotiation. It is advisable to check with the cantonal office for vocational training in Graubünden for reference values and applicable collective labor agreements in your sector.

During the contract, the apprentice can benefit from protection against night work (federal laws prohibit night work for apprentices under 16, except in certain cases), and in some cantons, from financial subsidies in case of financial difficulties.

Professional maturity: advancement path

After the apprenticeship (or in parallel during the last 1-2 years), the apprentice can obtain professional maturity, an additional federal diploma that allows direct access to universities of applied sciences (UAS) without an entrance exam. Professional maturity is recognized throughout Switzerland and is particularly valuable for those who wish to continue their studies after the apprenticeship or change their professional sector.

Professional maturity is obtained by passing exams in three areas: languages and communication (German and a foreign language), mathematics and sciences (mathematics, natural sciences), and professional disciplines (specific subjects of the chosen branch). The exams typically take place in the last months of the apprenticeship or immediately afterward. Federal recognition allows the diploma holder to enroll in any Swiss university of applied sciences, regardless of the canton where the diploma was obtained.

Economic and tax considerations

During the apprenticeship, the gross salary declared is subject to mandatory deductions (AVS/AI/IPG, AD, AC, LAINF) that significantly reduce the net salary. The apprentice is required to subscribe to health insurance (LAMal) within 3 months of the start of the apprenticeship; premiums vary by canton and region. The canton of Graubünden usually offers subsidies to reduce the premium in case of low income. It is important to plan the monthly budget considering these fixed costs and to check the available cantonal benefits.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

Practical procedure: how to find an internship position

The first step is to consult the official portals that list available internship positions in the Canton of Graubünden and throughout Switzerland. The federal portal ASLAP (Federal Office for Vocational Education and Training) allows you to view offers filtered by canton and professional sector. The website of the Office for Vocational Education and Training of the Canton of Graubünden lists recognized training companies, addresses, contacts, and available training programs in the region. [nav:jobs] allows you to search for internship positions nationwide, along with platforms such as jobs.ch, indeed, and jobscout24. It is also useful to visit companies directly interested in your preferred sector and ask if they are looking for apprentices.

Application and selection

Once you have identified the target companies, prepare a professional dossier: curriculum vitae (with school experiences, internships, extracurricular activities, language skills), cover letter (explain why you want this internship and this company), school certificates (compulsory school diploma and last year's report cards), and optional references from teachers or previous employers.

Apply through the channels indicated by the company (mail, email, online form). If the application is selected, a motivational interview will follow (the company verifies motivation and suitability for the role), possible aptitude tests (some companies require tests on mathematical, linguistic, and manual skills), and a visit to the company to get to know the workplace and the team.

Signing the contract and cantonal registration

If selected, the company proposes a preliminary internship contract. The document must be read carefully and agreed upon every point: duration, remuneration, hours, holidays, probationary period. The apprentice (or parent/guardian if minor) and the company sign the contract in the presence of a cantonal official or notary. The Office for Vocational Education and Training of Graubünden registers the internship in the federal system and automatically enrolls the apprentice in the relevant vocational school. You will receive a summons for school, a lesson calendar, and a list of necessary materials.

Timeline and deadlines

For an internship start in September (beginning of the Swiss school year): start looking for positions from October-November of the previous year, send applications from November to February, attend interviews and tests from February to April, sign the contract from April to June, cantonal registration from June to July, receive documentation in August, and start the internship in September. Some sectors have different schedules; check with the cantonal office for vocational education and training of Graubünden.

Resources and next steps

For detailed information on the Swiss apprenticeship system and opportunities in the Canton of Graubünden, the AFC (www.sbfi.admin.ch) provides federal regulations, diploma recognitions, and contacts for cantonal offices. The Office for Vocational Education and Training of the Canton of Graubünden is available for addresses, hours, forms, and a list of training companies. Consult our [nav:calculator] to simulate gross and net salary considering the mandatory social security contributions (AVS/AI/IPG, AD, AC, LAINF). Visit [nav:jobs] to search for internship ads nationwide in your preferred sector.

Official sources: Switzerland–Italy tax agreement (Fedlex) · Old-age insurance system (FSIO)