The canton of Basel-Stadt provides over 190,000 jobs for people from Switzerland and abroad. Around 35,000 cross-border commuters cross the border into Switzerland from France and Germany every day. Many of them are highly qualified specialists. People are also drawn to Basel from further afield: over 160 nations are represented here. Both global employees and locals feel at home in Basel: Mercer ranks the city of Basel among the fifteen cities with the highest quality of living in the world.

Working conditions in Switzerland are excellent. They are based on a well-established social partnership between employers and employees. The working hours for full-time positions are between 40 and 42.5 hours per week with at least four weeks of paid holidays per year. People under the age of 20 are entitled to five weeks’ holiday. Many companies offer their employees more holidays. Pregnant workers enjoy special protection. Women who have given birth to a child receive at least 14 weeks of maternity leave. Fathers can take two weeks of paid leave within six months of the birth of their child. Like the maternity allowance, the leave is financed through the income compensation allowance (Erwerbsersatzsordnung, EO). 

Wages in Switzerland are above average by international standards and average wages in the canton of Basel-Stadt are above the national average. Wages are usually paid monthly. A 13th  month salary is widespread. In many companies, it is common to give employees a (voluntary) bonus payment for good business performance.

Employees receive a compulsory child allowance per child, the amount of which varies from canton to canton. In Basel-Stadt, many companies also pay out an education credit for parents. Other allowances depend on the employer.

A contribution to the compulsory old-age pension scheme (OASI and pension fund), to disability insurance (DI), to the income compensation allowance (EO) and to unemployment insurance is deducted directly from the salary. The social security system is supported by employers and employees in solidarity. Taxes are not deducted directly from the salary.

Pension provision in Switzerland is based on three pillars ((Link: The 3 pillars of pension provision in Switzerland: OASI, PF, 3a/b)). OASI is compulsory and is financed through salary deductions. It is built on a solidarity-based intergenerational contract in which today’s employees use their OASI contributions to finance the pensions of pensioners, provided that they themselves have made OASI contributions.
 

By contrast, the pension fund is used by employees and employers to pay contributions into a personal account. The capital can then be accessed upon retirement. All employees who have already been insured in the 1st pillar and earn at least CHF 22,050 per year are covered (as of: 2024). The 3rd pillar, on the other hand, is voluntary. Contributions to a private pension account or private pension insurance can be deducted from income for tax purposes.

EU and EFTA citizens enjoy the free movement of persons. EU and EFTA citizens must register at their place of residence in Switzerland when taking up employment. Their stay is subject to authorisation. In the canton of Basel-Stadt, residents must register with the Basel-Stadt Residents’ Office.

Anyone applying for a job in Basel from a country outside the EU/EFTA or as a cross-border commuter does not need to worry about a work permit. If their interview was successful, their employer submits an application for a work permit to the cantonal authorities. It sometimes also requires the approval of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) in Bern.

In Switzerland, taxes are generally rather low, but tax rates vary from canton to canton. The Basel tax rate for natural persons is in the middle range nationwide.