Summer time, travel time – even if you are registered with the RAV, you have the right to holidays and rest. However, many job seekers do not know exactly how the system of "control-free days" works, from when they are entitled to them, and how to claim them correctly.
Constant availability for the labour market and fulfilling job search requirements can be mentally exhausting. That is why it is important to plan breaks. In this article, we answer the most important questions about your holidays during unemployment in Switzerland.
What are control-free days at the RAV?
Control-free days are legally regulated days on which you are exempt from your obligations towards the RAV and the unemployment fund. Specifically, this means:
- No job application requirement: On these days, you do not have to undertake any job search efforts.
- No requirement for availability: You do not need to be reachable for the RAV, the unemployment fund, or potential employers. You are allowed to travel abroad or simply switch off.
- Entitlement to daily allowances remains: You continue to receive your regular daily unemployment allowance for these days, even though you do not need to be available for placement.
A control-free day is not necessarily identical to a holiday in the traditional sense of an employment relationship, but in practice it is used in exactly the same way.
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- Alle Absagen, Bestätigungen und E-Mails als Nachweis aufbewahren.
- Formular "Nachweis der persönlichen Arbeitsbemühungen" vollständig ausfüllen.
- Spätestens am 5. Werktag des Folgemonats bei der zuständigen Stelle (RAV/Kasse) einreichen.
How many holiday days are you entitled to?
The entitlement to control-free days is clearly regulated in the Unemployment Insurance Act (AVIG). The calculation is relatively simple, but there is an important waiting period:
1. The waiting period (60 days) You are only entitled to control-free days after you have been registered as unemployed and monitored for 60 consecutive days (approx. 2 months). Therefore, you cannot officially take paid holidays during the first two months of your unemployment.
2. Entitlement after the waiting period After the 60-day waiting period has expired, you have earned 5 control-free days. For every additional completed month (20 monitored days each) of unemployment, 2.5 additional days are added.
In total, this adds up to 20 control-free days per year, which corresponds to 4 weeks of holiday.
Important rules for taking days off
The RAV and the unemployment fund (ALK) have strict guidelines on how and when you can take your control-free days:
- Taking days in blocks: In principle, control-free days should be taken in full weeks (1 week = 5 control-free days). Individual days are possible in consultation with your employment advisor, but are not the norm.
- Notice period: You must report your holidays to your RAV advisor at least 2 weeks in advance. If you do not do this in time, the RAV can refuse the leave or impose suspension days.
- No carryover to the next year: You should use your accumulated days while registered with the RAV. They cannot be paid out when you deregister (e.g. when starting a new job).
- Illness during holidays: If you fall ill during your control-free days, you must report this immediately (with a doctor's certificate); under certain circumstances, these days can then be credited back to you.
PARAT: Stay organised, even before holidays
So that you can go on holiday with peace of mind, it is important that your job search efforts for the rest of the month are correctly documented. With PARAT RAV tracking, you always keep an overview.
You can easily record your job applications and immediately see whether you have already met your monthly target. At the end of the month, you generate the completed ZIP export for the RAV with a single click. This way, you start your control-free days with a clear conscience and no pending items.
Conclusion: Rest is also important when looking for a job
Looking for a job is often a full-time job that requires energy and resilience. Control-free days are your right and essential for recharging your batteries. Plan them early, discuss them transparently with your RAV advisor, and use the time to clear your head – so that you can resume the application process with full energy afterwards.
