On March 8, 2026, voters in Geneva approved a revision of the Law on Labor Inspection and Relations (LIRT), introducing a specific minimum wage regime for student holiday jobs. Under the new provision, students enrolled in a recognised Swiss educational institution who carry out occasional work during school or university holidays for up to 60 days per calendar year may be paid 75% of the Geneva mandatory minimum wage.
For 2026, the applicable amounts will be:
• CHF 18.44 per hour (75% of the standard minimum wage of CHF 24.59/hour)
• CHF 13.55 per hour in the agriculture and floriculture sectors (75% of CHF 18.07/hour)
The measure applies specifically to occasional holiday work and does not affect regular student employment during the year, internships forming part of an educational program, or other categories of workers.
Compliance with the minimum wage is subject to inspections. Any violation may be sanctioned by an administrative fine of up to CHF 30,000, imposed by the Cantonal Office for Labor Inspection and Relations (OCIRT). This amount may be doubled for repeat offenses. In addition, the OCIRT maintains a public list of employers who have been sanctioned.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
