The legal foundations of unemployment insurance can be found in the unemployment insurance law (AVIG)
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/8/837.0.de.pdf, the ordinance on
unemployment insurance (AVIV)
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/.837_02.html, the ordinance on accident insurance and the ordinance on the obligatory pension fund for unemployed persons. The bulk of information provided in this chapter are quotations from www.treffpunkt-arbeit.ch.
The brochure for unemployed persons of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) summarises the most important information. You can find the brochure on http://www.treffpunkt-arbeit.ch/secopdf/de/b_arbeitslos.
Information of interest to couples of varied nationality in particular is available from a publication called "IG Binational Themenheft 2003/1", pages 11-14, entitled "Der erste Kontakt mit schweizerischen Sozialversicherungen" (= "Getting in touch with Swiss Social Security"). This publication is available for free from versand@ig-bionational.ch.

Who is entitled to unemployment benefit?

The following preconditions must be met:

• You are resident in Switzerland
• You are completely or partially unemployed
• In the two years before registering with the unemployment insurance, you were employed in Switzerland for at least twelve months. Contribution periods in an EU/EFTA state will also be credited if you were in gainful employment after entering Switzerland.
• If you dedicated yourself to bringing up your child under the age of ten and did not claim unemployment benefits during this time. In this case, you need to prove to the Regional Placement Centre (Regionales Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum, RAV) that you have made 12 months of contributions within the past four years.
• You are employable. This means that you are willing, able and qualified to take on reasonable work and participate in integration measures.
  You participate in the information day and in counselling and follow-up discussions at the RAV.
• You do everything reasonably possible to avoid being unemployed or to shorten the period of unemployment (the RAV determines what is reasonable!).

You will find detailed information on the following website:

www.treffpunkt-arbeit.ch

Exceptions
If you have not worked for the required contribution period, you are still insured if you were unable to work for one of the following reasons:

• Illness, motherhood or accident, provided you were resident in Switzerland during this time
• Working stay of more than one year in a country outside the EU/EFTA
  

You are also exempt from contributions if the following events force you to take up gainful employment:

• Divorce or separation
• Death of spouse
• Loss of a disability pension

However, this only applies if the event occurred no more than one year ago and you were resident in Switzerland at that time.

Newly entered persons and unemployment insurance
Many spouses who enter Switzerland in the context of subsequent immigration of family dependents are initially unemployed. As a rule, they are only entitled to unemployment benefit if they have worked in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA for at least one year over the previous two years.
Newly arrived individuals can nonetheless contact the RAV as soon as they are in possession of a residence permit. They will be accepted onto the job placement scheme and may be able to attend a course paid for by the unemployment insurance fund. Job-seekers must, however, attend counselling appointments at the RAV and provide proof of their job search.

Courses, training subsidies, work experience
A wide range of aid is available by law to help unemployed individuals in their permanent (re-)integration into the world of work. "Labour market schemes" of this kind include

• Courses (language courses, IT, technology, hotel and catering business, etc.)
• Training subsidies (paid in individual cases and under certain circumstances to facilitate basic education or updates to out-of-date qualifications), for counselling refer to the RAV
• Work experience

Unemployed persons entitled to unemployment benefits can participate in labour market schemes. Individuals at risk of becoming unemployed can also obtain support in the form of contributions to courses.
Important for binational couples: Persons who have recently entered Switzerland in connection with marriage (subsequent immigration of family dependents) and who have never worked in Switzerland may be eligible for contributions to courses.
As a rule, the RAV decides whether a scheme is reasonable or not. Insured individuals can, however, on their own initiative submit to the RAV a request to participate in a scheme. If the unemployment insurance fund refuses to cover the costs of course attendance, one can request to appeal against the decision and raise objections.
vide publication "IG Binational Themenheft 2003/1, page 12"
You will find detailed information in the brochure "Arbeitsmarktliche Massnahmen" (Labour market schemes) on:
www.treffpunkt-arbeit.ch

Procedure in the case of unemployment
During the period of notice
If your employer issues you with a notice of dismissal, determine whether it is legal. Employers need to adhere to periods of notice. Protection against unfair dismissal applies in the case of illness, accident, pregnancy, military service, civilian service and civil protection. If there is any doubt, immediately refer to the RAV or your trade union for counselling and advice and if necessary inform your employer by means of a registered letter that you do not accept the dismissal and wish to continue working. Ask your employer for a reference. If you do not agree with the reference, you can request an acknowledgement of work.
Update your application documents. It is essential that you start looking for work during the period of notice. Retain copies of the appropriate documents, such as letters of applications, job vacancies and letters of rejection. When you subsequently register with the Regional Placement Centre (RAV), you will need to provide proof of your job-seeking efforts.

Days without benefit
In the following cases, you may not receive unemployment benefit for a certain period of time (days without benefit):

• if you hand in your notice without having a new job lined up
• if you lose your job through negligence on your part
• if you do not look for a new job during the period of notice

Registering unemployment
The procedure differs from canton to canton. As a rule, you first register with the community, then with the Regional Placement Centre (RAV) and finally with the unemployment insurance fund. It is important to register as soon as possible, at the latest on the first day for which you are claiming unemployment benefit. The RAV will invite you to an initial discussion.
If possible, take the following documents to your first meeting:

• Notification form for the community you live in ("Meldung bei der Wohngemeinde")
• Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV) certificate
• Proof of residence of the community or foreigners' identity card
• Employment contract
• Written notice
• References from your last employers (if possible for the past two years)
• Certificates of education and further training
• Application documents
• Proof of efforts to find work since being given notice

For further information go to: www.treffpunkt-arbeit.ch