Swiss hospitality L-GAV: pay, hours and 13th salary in 2026

The Swiss hospitality collective agreement, L-GAV or CCNT, governs pay and working time for the people within its scope. Correct payroll links each employee to the right category, contract and establishment regime.

References and examples: 2026.

Prepare the employee file

Collect the contract, qualifications, employment percentage, start date and insurance policies. First check whether the agreement applies. A pay category needs evidence; it cannot be chosen to fit a preferred salary.

Compare the agreed salary with the relevant annual scale. Article 10 defines categories and conditions. Do not automatically use a reduction intended for another situation.

Select the working-time regime

The agreement provides maximum weekly averages of 42 hours, 43.5 hours for qualifying seasonal establishments and 45 hours for qualifying small establishments. Check Article 15 and its annex.

Planning example without overtime: an 80% employee under the 42-hour regime has a 33.6-hour weekly reference. Attendance alone does not determine pay: holidays, public holidays and absences also matter. Record actual hours and balances; a positive balance is not automatically a bonus.

Track the 13th salary and holidays

Track the 13th salary separately. Changes in remuneration during the year require tracking the entitlement earned in each period, rather than copying the latest salary. Article 12 sets out the conditions.

The agreement provides five weeks of annual holiday. Monthly-paid employees normally continue receiving salary during holiday; do not mechanically add holiday compensation to that monthly pay. Article 17.

Follow a monthly checklist

1. Check contract changes and effective dates.
2. Review hours, holidays and confirmed absences.
3. Reconcile insurance benefits with statements received.
4. Review gross pay, deductions, net pay and employer cost.
5. Approve the payslip, then prepare payments and documents.

How BMT makes the work easier

BMT brings the agreement, category, insurance and dated changes together in the payroll file. You can find the relevant information in one place and review the calculation before approval. Supporting documents and alerts help explain each amount.

The 13th salary tracks entitlements for the relevant periods. Absences and insurance statements are matched to the month's records. You retain final approval.

Read more: withholding-tax guide.

FAQ

Can I choose 45 hours because my restaurant is small?

Check the agreement's small-establishment criteria. The number of tables or a personal assessment is not sufficient.

Does paying above the minimum remove the need to record hours?

That fact alone does not remove the requirement. Overtime conditions must be checked separately.

Does BMT replace confirmation from the insurer?

No. Policies and statements support the rules and benefits. BMT helps reconcile them with payroll and identify missing information.