GastroSocial

GastroSocial is a Swiss social insurance and pension institution that unites, on a nationwide basis, the compensation fund (Ausgleichskasse) and the pension fund (Pensionskasse) of the hotel and gastronomy sector. It is described as the largest association compensation fund and association pension institution in Switzerland, with its registered office in Aarau. The organisation administers social insurance for employers, self-employed persons, employees and pensioners, and its services can also be used by companies outside the hospitality industry. GastroSocial's offering covers the first pillar (AHV/IV/EO/ALV and family allowances) as well as the second pillar (occupational pension provision), together with daily sickness benefits and accident insurance. In the area of daily sickness benefits and accident insurance, GastroSocial works closely with SWICA. The institution positions itself as a reliable partner for the hospitality sector and beyond, combining statutory social insurance administration with occupational pension solutions. According to its own factsheet, GastroSocial serves around 218,000 insured persons and 22,000 businesses, and employs roughly 280 staff. Its head office is in Aarau, where the compensation fund and pension fund were brought together spatially in 2016 to simplify internal processes. The organisation maintains flat hierarchies and short communication channels, and it publishes news, guides and reports on social insurance topics for employers, employees and pensioners. GastroSocial traces its origins to the founding of the "AHV Wirte" compensation fund by the Swiss innkeepers' association in 1948, the year the Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV) was introduced. In 1974 the association established the "BAV Wirte" pension fund for the second pillar, and in 1985 occupational pension provision became mandatory under the Swiss BVG law. When the Swiss innkeepers' association renamed itself "GastroSuisse" in 1996, the compensation fund became "AHV GastroSuisse" and the pension fund "BAV GastroSuisse". In 2005 the two were organisationally merged and renamed "GastroSocial". The supreme body of the institution is the presidency, comprising the board of the compensation fund and the foundation council of the pension fund. The foundation council is composed equally of six employee and six employer representatives, elected for three-year terms. Further bodies include an external pension fund expert, an audit company as external control body, a legal adviser, and the Federal Social Insurance Office as supervisory authority. Operational management lies with the executive board.

GastroSocial's history is closely tied to the development of the Swiss social insurance system and to the organised representation of the hotel and gastronomy sector. The Swiss old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV) was introduced in 1948, and in the same year the Swiss innkeepers' association (Schweizer Wirteverband) founded the compensation fund "AHV Wirte" to handle first-pillar settlements for the sector. In 1974 the association established the "BAV Wirte" pension fund to administer the second pillar. With the Federal Act on Occupational Retirement, Survivors' and Disability Pension Plans (BVG) in 1985, occupational pension provision became mandatory in Switzerland, strengthening the role of such pension funds. In 1996 the Swiss innkeepers' association renamed itself "GastroSuisse". The compensation fund accordingly took the name "AHV GastroSuisse" and the pension fund "BAV GastroSuisse". In 2005 the compensation fund and the pension fund were organisationally merged and renamed "GastroSocial". This created a combined institution that administers both first-pillar and second-pillar social insurance for the hospitality sector nationwide. In 2016, to simplify internal processes, the two entities were also brought together spatially at a new business location in Aarau. Today GastroSocial describes itself as the largest association compensation fund and association pension institution in Switzerland, with its registered office in Aarau. It serves around 218,000 insured persons and 22,000 businesses, and employs roughly 280 staff. Its services include AHV, IV, EO, ALV, family allowances, occupational pension provision, and daily sickness benefits and accident insurance, the latter in close cooperation with SWICA. The institution also offers its services to companies outside the hospitality industry. The supreme body is the presidency, comprising the board of the compensation fund and the foundation council of the pension fund. The foundation council is composed equally of six employee and six employer representatives, elected for three-year terms. Other bodies include an external pension fund expert, an audit company as external control body, a legal adviser, and the Federal Social Insurance Office as supervisory authority. Operational management is entrusted to the executive board. GastroSocial emphasises flat hierarchies and short communication channels, and it maintains a governance portal covering data protection, quality and sustainability, including certifications and policies.

• 2016

  Spatial consolidation at a new business location in Aarau to simplify internal processes.

• 2005

  The compensation fund and pension fund are organisationally merged and renamed "GastroSocial".

• 1996

  The Swiss innkeepers' association renames itself "GastroSuisse"; the funds become "AHV GastroSuisse" and "BAV GastroSuisse".

• 1985

  Occupational pension provision becomes mandatory in Switzerland under the BVG law.

• 1974

  The Swiss innkeepers' association establishes the "BAV Wirte" pension fund for the second pillar.

• 1948

  Swiss AHV introduced; the Swiss innkeepers' association founds the "AHV Wirte" compensation fund.

The largest association-based compensation fund and pension institution in Switzerland, serving the hotel and gastronomy sector and also open to companies outside the industry.

• Compensation fund (AHV/IV/EO/ALV)

  Administration of first-pillar social insurance contributions and benefits.

• Family allowance fund

  Administration of family allowances.

• Pension fund (BVG)

  Occupational pension provision under the BVG law.

• Daily sickness benefits and accident insurance

  Offered in close cooperation with SWICA.

• Payroll deduction calculator

  Online tool for calculating payroll deductions.

• Salary reporting

  Online salary reporting service.

• Pension account statements

  Ordering of individual pension account statements.

1. 1GastroSocial | Die Ausgleichs- und Pensionskasse für die Gastronomie…gastrosocial.ch
2. 2GastroSocial | News & Ratgebergastrosocial.ch
3. 3GastroSocial | Mediengastrosocial.ch
4. 4GastroSocial | Governancegastrosocial.ch
5. 5GastroSocial – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6GastroSocial – Wikidatawikidata.org