Agreement to enable pension payments to Ukraine
Published: Friday, Dec 6th 2024, 11:50
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Ukrainian refugees who work in Switzerland should be able to receive AHV and IV pensions after returning to their country. Switzerland and Ukraine are negotiating a social security agreement that will come into force in three years at the earliest.
On Friday, the Federal Council agreed to start negotiations on a social security agreement with Ukraine. Ukraine asked Switzerland to start negotiations.
According to the press release, the planned agreement is intended to coordinate the social security systems of both countries, ensure equal treatment of insured persons and facilitate access to benefits and pension payments in both countries.
The Federal Council is focusing on the return of Ukrainian refugees to their home country. For people who have paid into the social security system, the return will be simplified. The amount of the pensions depends on how long contributions to AHV and IV have been paid.
The agreement is also intended to enable the export of Ukrainian pensions to Switzerland. This should help to ensure that refugees from Ukraine need less money from social welfare in Switzerland. It should also facilitate cooperation between the authorities in both countries in the fight against abuse and fraud.
The negotiated agreement must be approved by the parliaments in both countries. It is not expected to come into force for at least three years, according to the Federal Council. Around 66,500 Ukrainian citizens with status S live in Switzerland. The Federal Council has set a target of forty percent of these refugees taking up employment by the end of the year.
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