Unemployment insurance fund Unia manages the largest private unemployment insurance fund in Switzerland. On this page you will find important information, assistance and documents in the event of unemployment.
Providing a dedicated and competent service, the Unia unemployment insurance fund works hard to ensure that unemployed people get proper support and receive their benefits on time.
As a trade union unemployment insurance fund, Unia is also a member of various national committees and works hard to ensure social justice in the implementation and further development of the unemployment insurance law.
Register immediately as an unemployed person, even if you have just received notice of termination and are still in employment.
At the latest on the first day on which you are entitled to unemployment benefits, you must register your unemployed status in person, otherwise you will lose part of your unemployment compensation.
In some cantons you can register directly with the Regional Job Centre (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum/RAV), and in other cantons with your commune of residence.
To find out which applies in your place of residence and which documents you need to take along, refer to the Information portal of the Swiss Authorities.
When you register you will receive a list of all unemployment funds in your canton. You have freedom of choice: It's up to you to choose which unemployment fund will look into your entitlement and is responsible for paying unemployment benefits.
You are obliged to actively seek a new job. Even during the notice period you must apply for jobs, otherwise part of your unemployment compensation could be cancelled. Keep your job application documents (motivation letter, rejection letters) in a safe place and take them along to your first consultation with the job centre.
As a foreign national working in Switzerland, you do not need to immediately leave Switzerland if you lose your job or if your employment contract expires.
For further information please visit www.ch.ch
The Unia Unemployment Fund will look into your entitlement for unemployment compensation. To enable us to pay out your benefits, you must submit the necessary documents in good time!
And also, if applicable:
Send your documents to the scan centre responsible for your region (not to your payment centre!). You can find the addresses of all scan centres here:
Regions Zürich-Schaffhausen and Eastern Switzerland Unia Arbeitslosenkasse SC [Zahlstellennummer] Postfach 8010 Zürich-Mülligen
Regions Bern, Biel-Solothurn, Oberwallis, North-West Switzerland, Aargau and Central Switzerland Unia Arbeitslosenkasse SC [Zahlstellennummer] Postfach 3386 3001 Bern
Regions Vaud, Fribourg, Valais, Genève, Neuchâtel et Transjurane (only for letter post. For other matters contact your payment centre) Unia Caisse de chômage SC [numéro d’office de paiement] Case postale 1479 1001 Lausanne
Region Ticino and Moesa Unia cassa di disoccupazione SC [numero dell’ufficio pagamento] Casella postale 6545 6901 Lugano 1
EU citizens who have worked in Switzerland and wish to register as unemployed in an EU country need the PDU 1 form. This confirms the insurance periods accumulated in Switzerland and accredited abroad. It is issued by the Swiss Unemployment Fund.
Important: A separate employer’s certificate is required for every company for which you have worked in Switzerland. The number of years for which you need to prove your employment in Switzerland varies depending on the country of emigration. You will find more details on the second page of the «Antrag auf Ausstellung eines PDU1» application form.
If you have already drawn unemployment compensation in Switzerland, you must request the PDU 1 form from the unemployment fund responsible for you while you are unemployed. Alternatively, you can contact a fund of your choice.
Order the PDU 1 form in good time - preferably during your notice period. Unemployment compensation is paid only from the date of registration, and not retroactively. You must therefore register as unemployed as soon as possible in your country of residence, otherwise you will lose part of your benefits.
Flyer PDU1
Applying for Unemployment Benefits in an EU-country (PDF)Requerer subsídio de desemprego num Estado-Membro da UE (PDF)
During your unemployment, you can go to another EU/EFTA country for up to three months to look for a new job. For this option, you must submit the «Antrag auf Leistungen bei Arbeitssuche im Ausland (PDF)» (application for benefits while seeking a job abroad) to your job centre.
Comprehensive information is provided in the brochure entitled «Leistungen bei Arbeitssuche im Ausland (PDF)» (Benefits while seeking jobs abroad).
EURES (EURopean Employment Service) is a cooperation network run by the public employment administrations of the European Union and EFTA countries. The aim is to facilitate the mobility of employees within Europe.
If you are planning to work in another European country, contact the EURES advisory office in your canton of residence. For further information, please visit www.eures.ch