Hi,
I have lived just outside Lausanne now for 11 years and until 2008 worked for a multinational. I left in 2008 to set up my own business, a Societe Anonyme, where I employed myself and have been paying all the required Avs and other charges and insurances. My business has now sadly lost its largest customers and I cannot live off it any more. Is it really true that I am not eligible for any unemployment benefits? Why am I then required to pay unemployment insurance?
Thanks for any help or tips,
Aussie/Swede

As I understand it, you must cease at least to be an officer of your company in order to get unemployment benefit. You may have to close your company. The unemployment office should be able to advise you.

Thanks so much. I will resign as Director and will check if I need to close down completely (would take some time I imagine).
Appreciate your help,
Aussie/Swede

Seems like a complicated situation. I can't give you a definitive answer, but I tend to agree to what NotAllThere said.

Maybe you can find something on here: http://www.jobarea.ch/ (official website of the unemployment offices) or here: http://www.seco.admin.ch/themen/0038...x.html?lang=de (relevant legal articles). Unfortunately both sites don't have a lot of information in English, but if you understand one of the national languages there is a lot you can learn there.

Hi, you can claim unemployment benefits as soon as you can show you have no more involvement with your company. This could be through resigning and closing down the company completely, or you could sell the company shell (your accountant can advise you on this) or you can pass it on to someone else you know (but not, if you are married, to your wife or husband. If you are not married, it could be to your partner).

The Amt for Arbeit will probably control this situation very carefully. But as long as you completely cut all ties to your company, and you can explain the economic downturn piece, you will be fine.

There will be a lot of hoops to jump through, but basically if you follow the rules to the letter you will be able to claim unemployment benefit.

Good luck!

Social services will help you with financing as long as you pay it all back...BTW what were you selling or doing?