You may already be eligible for RAV if your husband was working in EU before here.

Bear in mind, though, that RAV will be maximum 70% (You don't mention kids), capped at about 85k, so that 10% cut looks better value.

Well RAV will only pay 70%, probably 1 months waiting, however turning down a job offering 90%, I.e more than insured salary will lead to a very, very long waiting period.

Btw work in an other eu country will count towards the 12 months min employment as will any notice period.

It doesn't sound as bad as it may first appear. The thing to remember is that EVERYTHING is negotiable and EVERYONE is approachable. It may stipulate in your rental contract that you can only leave on certain dates, however if you give your landlord or rental agency a call and explain the situation then I'm sure you can come to some sort of agreement. You'll most likely just have to see out your 3 month notice period.

As for hidden charges, just pick up the phone and give your docs or whoever you think you may owe money to a call. They should certainly be able to tell you.

In your husband's position, I'd probably just take the hit whilst you make arrangements to leave rather than stopping work outright. Has he thought of asking if he can work 10% less and take an afternoon off work every week seeing as they're going to be paying him less?

The panic moment is over I hope and the advice in the forum is good. You have to make a plan and any move costs money.

My concern is that staffing agency contracts are normally negotiated with HR, the agency could be trying to pull a fast one to maintain their profits and not pass through all reductions. it happened in 2003, 2010 to my knowledge and also contractors are then victim to non-payment of AHV and more. there are good ones and cowboys, like everything.

One big advantage for the job search, YOU ARE HERE in Switzerland, you have made one part of the journey.

Remember, by accepting the 10% reduction and if you do then qualify for RAV, once the contract expires, hubby will get free German lessons, you can practise at home together to get your unofficial B1 ).

The contract space also gives you time to transition from the agency to another.

Use networks and jobs.ch not just applying to Linkedin adverts, task your hubby with making 20 one on one not group coffee or a beer meet-ups with others in the same line of work. This will give him the picture on the ground, keep you both busy and help you get away from this contracting company.

If all this is not where you feel you need to be, in parallel, look at UK jobs, if an engineer Jaguar Land Rover related businesses are hiring everywhere. IT for London etc. You or your husband decide who makes the move first, plan for the other to follow, at least you have cashflow coming in with the revised contract.

Good luck, it is a hard battle to win but I promise you will feel better in a few months. I had my moment after 5yrs and wondered what the hell i was doing here.

The other half joined a trade union when we came here, called them today and they said they will look at making sure he is not shortchanged by the agency and he will get paid his full notice period and every day of unused leave or they will put their lawyers on it but they can't do much about stopping dismissal or pay cuts in this economy.

They also referred us to a debt counselor who we are going to meet next week, she told us to bring all our bank and credit card records for 6 months and they will help us decide if our rent is really too high and if we are suffering hardship. I was kind of surprised, they told us not to pay any money to anybody, including this month's rent and health insurance, until after they meet with us next Monday. They also told us to lock away the credit cards though. Apparently if there is hardship they can try and help us negotiate with RAV and KVG and other social schemes.

Fingers crossed that everything adds up next Monday.

Sounds like your cards are maxed out....

This may not...oh well...it is not the response you are looking for but I am annoyed by such posts. You had the opportunity to take a 10% salary cut but instead you go whining, mention RAV, and now complaining of hardship and how some socialist agency should bail you out. What is wrong with people? What happened with saving for a rainy day and in your 10% salary reduction case it's not even raining, it's some fog layer far away. WTF? Seriously, do people live such a maxed out life they cannot maintain with just a 10% salary reduction?

You mention flights home are expensive. You've been here 10 months, how many times do you need to go home in 10 months? I honestly cannot understand that pity mentality. Yes, it sucks that you got offered a 10% reduction but on the bright side you weren't let go. People became way to accustomed that RAV would be there for them. Like others have mentioned, don't go crying to RAV because you turned down a 90% previous salary position.

It's because of bullshit like this that people are saying to shut the doors to foreigners. It's one thing to recruit talent but it's another to attract whiny princesses that look to live off the system.

Consider yourself lucky with that 90%. You have a job and you have a motivation to find another. Get some perspective.

Is there something your not telling us about your debts? Firstly it was managing your rent and possible unexpected bills down the line. Now you're meeting a debt counselor given the situation you originally described I wouldn't expect a need for one of these.

I'm not defending every bit of OP's situation or approach, and I agree with some of what you've said but this part struck a nerve with me.

I don't even remember how many times I had to fly home in my first year here, due to numerous deaths in my immediate family. When my dad was dying, I booked the flight at midnight and was at ZRH at 6 a.m. Got home to the States just in time to say goodbye. I didn't care how much the flight cost, it had to be done. Sh*t happens and sometimes you have to leave at the drop of a hat, and pay a bundle to do it. Please don't assume everyone who flies home multiple times is a whiny princess.

As for the rest, I agree OP should be able to absorb a 10% hit for a short time, until hubby can find something else. Doing a runner or going for social help should be a last resort, imo.

70% if no minor children at home, and only up to a salary of 126k.

Tom