Public-sector unions in the canton of Vaud escalated industrial action on 5 December, launching a seventh strike day against planned CHF 305 million budget cuts for 2026. While the walk-out targets a broad range of cantonal services, HR teams should note that immigration desks issuing L- and B-permits form part of the affected administration.
Union leaders warned that the strike could become “endless,” with further mass mobilisation scheduled for 9 December. Cantonal authorities have activated minimum service levels but conceded that back-office functions—including the scanning and cantonal approval stage of foreign-worker applications—are operating with reduced staff.
![Vaud Civil-Service Strike Could Delay Local Work-Permit Processing]()
For companies onboarding international hires or renewing residence permits in Vaud (hub to life-science clusters around Lausanne), processing times could lengthen beyond the usual 2–4 weeks. Payroll teams should also anticipate knock-on delays in issuing salary certificates for frontier workers.
Employers are advised to file dossiers electronically where possible, include generous lead-times, and communicate with relocating staff to manage expectations. Intra-company transferees already in Switzerland can continue working under the 120-day rule but should carry proof of application submission during workplace inspections.
The strike also underscores the importance of understanding Switzerland’s federal structure: even when federal quotas are available, cantonal bottlenecks can disrupt project timelines—an operational risk often overlooked in mobility budgeting.
Union leaders warned that the strike could become “endless,” with further mass mobilisation scheduled for 9 December. Cantonal authorities have activated minimum service levels but conceded that back-office functions—including the scanning and cantonal approval stage of foreign-worker applications—are operating with reduced staff.
For companies onboarding international hires or renewing residence permits in Vaud (hub to life-science clusters around Lausanne), processing times could lengthen beyond the usual 2–4 weeks. Payroll teams should also anticipate knock-on delays in issuing salary certificates for frontier workers.
Employers are advised to file dossiers electronically where possible, include generous lead-times, and communicate with relocating staff to manage expectations. Intra-company transferees already in Switzerland can continue working under the 120-day rule but should carry proof of application submission during workplace inspections.
The strike also underscores the importance of understanding Switzerland’s federal structure: even when federal quotas are available, cantonal bottlenecks can disrupt project timelines—an operational risk often overlooked in mobility budgeting.
