Forced into part-time work
Thousands of people in Switzerland work part-time against their will, often because they are denied the opportunity to work longer hours. For those affected, this can lead to financial insecurity and increased psychological stress, as Karin Schwiter and Reta Barfuss explain in the online publication Social Security by the Federal Social Insurance Office.
- Approximately 220,000 people in Switzerland are involuntarily employed on a part-time basis. Women and migrants working in sectors such as cleaning, hospitality, and personal services are particularly affected.
- Regulatory disincentives, such as the pension fund enrolment threshold or the permissibility of contracts with a minimum guaranteed number of hours, make it advantageous for employers to hire workers on small schedule contracts.
- Underemployment places a financial and health burden on those affected, while simultaneously leaving considerable labour potential untapped.
Unfreiwillig in Teilzeit (in German)
Soziale Sicherheit CHSS, 30. März 2026
À temps partiel malgré eux (in French)
Sécurité Sociale CHSS, 30. März 2026
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