What does temporary work mean for my pension fund?

Temporary work and mandatory OPA: What applies to you

As a temporary employee in Switzerland, you are also subject to mandatory occupational pensions (OPA), provided you meet certain requirements. This gives you the security of saving for your retirement and being covered against risks such as disability or death, even in flexible employment relationships.

The insurance obligation applies to you if the following points are met:

• Minimum salary: Your projected annual salary exceeds the legal entry threshold of CHF 22,680 (as of 2025). For short assignments, your salary is projected for a full year to check if you reach this limit.
• Contract duration: Your employment contract is for a period of more than three months. For several consecutive assignments with the same temporary employment agency, the employment periods are added together.

The role of the temporary employment agency

Your temporary employment agency is your official employer. It is legally obliged to join a registered pension fund and to correctly account for your contributions. As an experienced partner for many staff leasing companies, Tellco offers solutions tailored to the flexible needs of temporary staff. A fair contribution calculation based on an hourly wage, for example, ensures that your pension contributions always correspond exactly to your actual income.

What happens during job changes and breaks?

Frequent changes and breaks are typical for temporary work. For your pension fund, this means the following:

• End of an assignment: When an assignment ends and you do not have a new job immediately, your accumulated retirement savings are transferred to a new pension institution or a vested benefits account.
• Seamless risk insurance: After leaving the pension fund, you remain insured against the risks of death and disability for another month.
• New assignment: If you start a new assignment with the same temporary employment agency after a short break, your insurance cover will usually continue seamlessly.

How to keep track

With just a few steps, you can ensure that your pension provision stays on course:

1. Check your OPA obligation: Check your payslip to see if OPA contributions are deducted as soon as your salary exceeds the entry threshold. Example: With an hourly wage of CHF 30 and a 42-hour week, you will reach the annual salary limit after around 18 working weeks.
2. Consolidate your pension assets: With every change, make sure that your assets are transferred from the previous pension fund to the new one. This way you avoid forgotten funds.
3. Use digital access: Register with online portals such as ePlix. This gives you a full overview of your accumulated capital and benefits at all times.
4. Stay proactive: Do not hesitate to ask your temporary employment agency or the pension fund directly if anything is unclear.

Keep track of your pension assets

With changing jobs, it is particularly important not to lose track of your own pension assets. If you are insured with the Tellco Pension Fund, our online portal ePlix will help you. There you have access to your personal pension data at any time and in real time. You can also view your current insurance certificate easily and securely there.

We are here for you

Occupational pensions for temporary work do not have to be complicated. With a reliable partner at your side, you can be sure that your retirement savings are in good hands. Do you have any further questions about your personal situation? Our multilingual team will be happy to help you. Simply contact us.