In Portugal there are 14 salaries per year, in UK is 12. How many in Switzerland?

Most often 12 but sometimes 13, depends entirely on the employer.

...somehow from what I have seen and heard from others in my 13 months since I am in Switzerland, as well as from what I have experienced myself so far - I would say it could be the other way round. Whomever I know, they are all getting a 13th salary. But then again, I might not be seeing the full picture.

It's irrelevant, you get an annual salary and somne divide by 12, others by 13.

12 or 13 is generally the norm. I've experienced both and prefer 12 over 13...not sure what the overall benefit is on having more salaries per year.

For most of the employees paying tax at source, 12 equal payments would be perfect because then you pay least tax at source (which is of course corrected in the tax return a couple of years later...)

A 13nd month or a bonus payment is much higher taxed when paying tax at source.

Ah, I don't get taxed at source...but the 13 salaries never made sense to me to begin with. Thanks for the explanation.

I've heard that some big Pharma companies give a 14th monthly salary, but I guess that's more the exception than the rule.

The only minor benefit is that if you are inept with your money you have a little set aside to help pay your taxes and expenses at year end. Otherwise, there is no benefit of a 13th salary other than to make employees thing "Ooo! I get a bonus!" which they don't, as pointed out above by TO.

We used to, but I never understood it. One extra payday in December (OK, so end of year, xmas extra spending, makes some sense) and one in April. Then we dropped the April one, and a couple of years ago the December one too, so now we just have 12/year.