Insurance and pension

Old-age and survivor's insurance (OASI)

The first tier of the pension scheme ¨C old-age and survivor's insurance ¨C is compulsory for all employees regardless of their citizenship. It is intended to cover basic needs in old age.

Occupational benefit plan

The second tier ¨C occupational pensions ¨C is intended to enable people, in an appropriate manner, to maintain their accustomed standard of living in old age. This is compulsory for employees whose salaries are at or above a specific minimum level and is guaranteed by the occupational pension fund. Employers are obliged to pay at least 50% of the required contributions.

ETH Zurich employees are insured by external page PUBLICA (the Swiss Federal Pension Fund) with a defined contribution plan. Under the contribution plan, benefits are based on the amounts credited through contributions plus any deposits in the account (including interest). At ETH Zurich, the employee pays 36% of the monthly contributions, with the remaining 64% paid by the employer.

Employees also have the option to pay voluntary contributions which entitle them to greater pension and withdrawal benefits.

In their first month of employment, new ETH employees receive a welcome letter from PUBLICA with an orange payment slip for the transfer of vested benefits to PUBLICA. The orange payment slip must be sent to the former pension fund so that the vested benefits can be transferred. 

Private savings plans

The third tier ¨C private savings plans ¨C is optional and is based on private savings.

OASI reference age (formerly retirement age)

In Switzerland, the current legal retirement age is 64 years for women and 65 years for men. As a result of the OASI reform 21 (AHV 21) and after a transitional period, the OASI reference age of 65 years will apply to both men and women in Switzerland, starting from 2028. At ETH early retirement may be taken from the age of 60. For further inofrmation on retirmenent, please refer to:

• Normal retirement
  
• Early or partial retirement
• ETH Download information sheet on retirement (PDF, 54 KB)
• external page Explanatory video about the reform OASI 21 (AHV 21)

Accident insurance distinguishes between occupational and non-occupational accidents.

Occupational accident insurance

All employees whose salaries are subject to social insurance contributions must be insured against occupational accidents. This insurance covers medical expenses and daily allowances, provides accident-related disability benefits and supports surviving dependents following the death of the insured person.

Eligible employees at ETH Zurich are insured by the external page Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund SUVA against the consequences of occupational accidents. The insurance premium is paid by ETH Zurich.

Non-occupational accident insurance

Non-occupational accident insurance covers the financial consequences of accidents which did not take place at work. All workers employed in Switzerland are insured against non-occupational accidents on a compulsory basis, provided that they work at least eight hours a week for the same employer.

As the employer, ETH Zurich pays one third of the premium for non-occupational accident insurance, with the employee paying the remaining two thirds.

Employees who work for less than eight hours a week are not insured against non-occupational accidents (except for accidents which take place on the way to and from work). These persons must make sure, at their own expense, that accidents are covered by their compulsory health insurance policy.

In addition to their compulsory accident insurance, ETH Zurich employees can also opt to take out private supplementary insurance from AXA with attractive premiums.