Government steps up battle against illegal working
The government has unveiled a series of measures to tackle illegal working in Switzerland. The cabinet said it planned to impose stricter penalties on employers who take on illegal workers, including prison sentences for repeat offenders.
In a statement on Wednesday, the cabinet said illegal working was unacceptable for industrial, legal and ethical reasons, and needed to be tackled head on.
It said the practice threatened pay levels, employee protection schemes and the social welfare state, adding that people who respected the tax and welfare laws should not be made to pay for those who cheat the system.
It unveiled a series of measures aimed at discouraging employers from taking on illegal workers. These include depriving offending companies of public contracts for a five-year period, and halting bad weather payments and subsidies for seasonal workers.
The cabinet added that employers who continue to offend could face prison terms of up to one year as well as fines of SFr1 million ($580,000). It added that they could also be penalised by having their social insurance bills increased by as much as 100 per cent.
The cabinet said it would also make it easier for illegal working to be detected, by fostering better cooperation between government departments. It also has plans to encourage workers to declare their income by providing vouchers related to contributions.
It is estimated that illegal working will account for nearly nine per cent of Switzerland’s gross national product this year, or SFr35 billion.
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