Swiss jobless left stranded as IT failure blocks unemployment pay for months

Unemployed individuals across Switzerland are facing severe delays in receiving their unemployment benefits. An IT outage since mid-December has left thousands without their online payments, causing financial strain. Officials have promised solutions, but many are still waiting for funds they rely on to get by.

Before December 2023, Switzerland's unemployment system supported an average of 93,536 people each year. But since the IT failure, delays have left large numbers without their online payments. In Geneva alone, 40% of jobseekers are still waiting for their online payments, even though some have received earlier instalments.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) claimed to have paid out around 400 million Swiss francs by January 30, 2026. Yet, despite this, individuals like Amélia and Déborah remain without their January online payments. Déborah received her December online payment but is still waiting for January's, while Amélia has made repeated calls to SECO without success.

SECO had promised to resolve the issue by the end of January, but many remain without their online payments. Jeton Hoxha, president of the Association for the Defense of the Unemployed, described being overwhelmed by the rising needs of those left without support. Davide De Filippo, president of the Geneva Union Federation, criticised SECO for misleading statements and demanded compensation for those affected. He pointed out that the unemployment insurance system has recorded profits in recent years and could afford to cover the delays.

The ongoing delays have left unemployed individuals struggling to cover basic expenses. While SECO maintains that funds have been disbursed, many remain without their online payments. Calls for compensation and clearer communication continue as the situation stretches into another month.