Unions in Switzerland have proposed introducing more effective rules on overtime, more holidays and less work-day flexibility.
Keystone / Martin Ruetschi
Legislative measures are needed to combat stress and the increasing cases of exhaustion in the workplace, according to unions in Switzerland.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/amva
Italiano
it
Il 40% dei lavoratori in Svizzera si sente esausto
Trade union associations in Switzerland have called for legislative measures to combat stress and exhaustion in the workplace. Travail.Suisse and other affiliated unions have proposed introducing more effective rules on overtime, more holidays and less flexible working hours.
The call for action comes as a survey by Travail.Suisse shows that almost 40% of workers in Switzerland feel exhausted and burnout is on the rise. The increasing number of excessively long and fragmented working days is putting the health and social lives of staff at risk, according to Migmar Dhakyel, secretary of the Syna trade union. In a written speech, Dhakyel says, “even for part-time workers, 12 or 13-hour working days are becoming common”.
President of Travail.Suisse, Adrian Wüthrich, stressed that protecting workers’ health is non-negotiable and that less flexibility, not more, is needed to protect their health and private lives.
Various studies show that the highest level of stress is noted among those working in the hotel and restaurant industry.
For office workers, clearer rules are needed to ensure they have the right to rest and to not be contacted during their time off, said Olivia Stuber of the Transfair union. With digitisation forcing employees to constantly adapt, the unions concluded that more holidays and reduced working hours are sensible compensatory measures to protect employees’ health in an increasingly hectic working world.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Politics
In Switzerland, New Year brings ‘burka ban’ and pension hikes
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
EU cuts aid to Hungary, Switzerland continues to pay
This content was published on
Earlier this year, the European Commission withdrew planned EU aid to Hungary because of violations of the rule of law. Switzerland shares the EU's doubts, but continues to pay its cohesion contribution to Hungary.
‘One million stars’ against poverty light up Swiss parliament square
This content was published on
Swiss charity Caritas lit thousands of candles on parliament square in Bern on Saturday evening to mark the "A Million Stars" solidarity campaign, a reminder that many people in Switzerland still live in poverty.
This content was published on
The Eurovision Song Contest shows are in high demand, with the result that profiteers are hoping to make a quick franc by buying up lots of tickets.
Former Swiss finance minister slams report on Credit Suisse collapse
This content was published on
Former Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer has criticised a parliamentary report on UBS's takeover of Credit Suisse, rejecting accusations that he hid the seriousness of the situation from the government.
This content was published on
Researchers in Zurich have developed an electricity-free dehumidifier. It is a building element that allows walls and ceilings to absorb moisture from the air and store it temporarily.
Swiss man found dead in Iranian prison had allegedly collected soil samples
This content was published on
The Swiss man who died in an Iranian prison is said to have secretly taken soil samples beforehand, according to Iranian media.
This content was published on
Hackers have attacked the Swiss federal administration. Among other things, telephones, email and various federal websites and specialist applications were affected.
More and more Swiss celebrities and institutions leaving X
This content was published on
The short messaging service X has also lost its reputation in Switzerland. More and more personalities and institutions are turning their backs on tech billionaire Elon Musk's platform.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
2023 salary talks offer mixed picture, says Swiss union
This content was published on
Travail.Suisse says workers will receive big pay rises next year but these won't compensate for the higher cost of living.
This content was published on
A new survey shows that despite the introduction of a two-week legal minimum, large differences exist between job sectors, say unions.
Courses should be ‘more accessible’ for visually impaired people
This content was published on
The blind and visually impaired should have better access to regular education and training courses, campaigners have argued.
This content was published on
Trade unions have said scrapping the freedom of movement agreement with the European Union, saying a “yes” vote would be “an attack on all workers”.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.