On September 27 the Swiss electorate will decide on whether to end the free movement of people with the European Union. How would you be affected if the initiative is accepted? Share your story.
From the article Immigration initiative could spell trouble for Swiss expats
My two brothers in law live and work in France with their families. They will join my family in moving to Singapore and because we bring 4 decent size businesses along which will have about 150 employees in total we're on the fast track for a new passport. That will mean giving up the Swiss passport as it is pretty much pointless outside of Switzerland.
I'm a swiss student living in Britain. Having access to freedom of movement is absolutely critical for my lifestyle. With freedom of movement, I was able to freely move in and stay in the UK, though this has become more complicated with Brexit. Still, it allows me to study at other European universities with reduced tuition and the fact that I do not require visas or extra papers is important as these can often be significant barriers to living abroad, especially as a student. If freedom of movement is no longer granted to swiss citizens it would mean I can only freely live in two countries (the UK and Switzerland) or if I leave the UK only Switzerland. I would feel completely cut off not just from Europe but from the rest of the world as studying abroad also allowed met study to spend some time studying in the USA, something in my case I was only able to do by studying the UK. Additionally, if it wasn't for freedom of movement I may not have been able to go to university at all as I had to do a diploma in high school which unfortunately meant I did not qualify to go to a swiss university and being able to freely move to another country in Europe I was still able to go to university, something especially important since I want to be an academic. Finally, since I am living in the UK, with Brexit, I am seeing first hand what it's like to have freedom of movement abolished. It is a disaster for peope and business of all kinds. Personally I am having to apply for extra papers to continue living here and I am afraid of what might happen if I leave since the cost of moving to the UK without freedom of movement is very difficult and expensive. Brexit is a disaster for the UK and it will potentially get worse. If Switzerland were to also abolish freedom of movement it would be even worse for them as I would argue Switzerland is even more dependent on the EU than the UK is. I would definitely be a disaster for me. This is why I hope people in Switzerland reject the initiatve.
I am a Swiss citizen and spent several months working for a German company in Heidelberg. It was a nightmare from the beginning. Swiss companies make it very easy for citizens from the EU to work here; however, my experience is that it’s the opposite for Swiss who want to work in the EU. First of all, the salary differential together a distorted exchange rate makes it difficult for German/EU companies to meet Swiss salary expectations, even at a senior level. Then, the tax burden makes it difficult for Swiss citizens who have their cost base here, but have to pay partial taxes in the EU, which are much higher. To top it off, it was a nightmare sorting out the pension funds and other social security and insurances. In the end, I threw in the towel and returned to a Swiss employer. While I think Swiss companies need access to talent from the EU and beyond, it is not a balanced playing field for the Swiss.
I think Switzerland would've been better off joining the EEA. Would've certainly solved the "level playing field" issue.
Hi. I am a retired Expat - a retired Swiss Expat living abroad since I finished my officer course and my secondary education in Switzerland. After that I studied for my PhD in North America and then worked in more than a dozen countries on 4 continents. Currently, I am stuck in Spain because of Covid19 as I can't return to my home in China. That is not as bad as it sounds and better than going back to my permanent residency spending 2 more quarantine period and other hurdles.While I understand the tension that the free movements agreement with the EU can cause in a small country like Switzerland, I would support some kind of a solution limiting the intake of immigrants as percentage of the population to ensure assimilation and integration. If the upcoming vote would end the agreement with the EU it would create tensions and squash any goodwill towards Switzerland. So a moderate solution might be sensible. Additionally, it might be wise not to strain the relation with the EU too much at this time as the economic conditions in general will deteriorate and collaboration will be more important than ever.In my case I would probably be forced to return to Switzerland if the vote goes against free movement which would be financially a strainJAK
Totally agree with Lynx Vegas. Switzerland is protecting the local industry and retail by custom duties and limits on out-of-the border shopping. This makes us all buy CHF 60.00/kg local meat, but it's fair enough. Why does the swiss law does not protect the swiss labour and its employees? Why double standards? While unemployment is on the rise everywhere in Europe, all reasonable people are applying for Swiss jobs like never before. All the international solidarity aside, the swiss locals are the victim of this situation. While the politicians are usually not in danger of losing job due to competition from France or Germany, everyone from costruction workes, waiters, programmers and engineers are. Swiss need to stop this nonsense! With salaries difference in Europe varying 10 fold, it becomes imposible to get a well payed job in Switzerland since employers can always get cheap labour from other countries.
I am a UK national, who became Swiss, partly so I could vote. Since Schengen was accepted, 20 years ago, my salary has remained static (apart from inflation increases), while all my costs have risen. 20 years ago, I could eat in restaurants every night. Now I'm lucky if I can do this once a month. If salaries had kept pace with costs, I'd have a very good life. As it is, cheap labour from abroad has kept salaries down. I will be voting to end free movement of people.
You are conflating many things mate !In particular, you seem to be conflating a short stay visa, often for purposes such as tourism or business meetings etc. with a national visa. I cite from the Schengen information site at: schengenvisainfo.com"A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any members of the Schengen Area, per stays up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.However, if you are planning to study, work, or live in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, then you must apply for a national visa of that European country and not a Schengen Visa"Note that the Schengen visa does not give the holder the right to settle in or take up work in any of the Schengen countries.Of course, one might argue that there are some Schengen visa applicants who game the system to remain in the region. But that is usually a trickle and for all practical purposes make no real economic impact on wages. And that population that games the system is likely to be spread all over the wealthier countries and not just Switzerland. Hence, to blame the Schengen accords for your wage stagnation is barking at the wrong tree. Additionally, wages and wage movements vary from industry to industry. And several factors can be at play - technology, trade, demand, supply, seasonality, government regulation, unionisation, minimum wage floors etc. Immigration affects supply of labour in perhaps in some blue collar industries and in industries where employers prefer i.e. have demand for lower paid immigrant or clandestine labour. But I am not aware of any empirical economic analysis of the impact of immigration on Swiss wages in all sectors.Additionally, those migrants who move to Switzerland - like yourself - would be paying taxes and buying goods and services in Switzerland. Their demand keeps the wheels of the economy turning. I find it somewhat disconcerting that a person like you who has migrated from the UK in search of a better life in Switzerland would still want to shut the door for others in your predicament. But not entirely surprising though to find people who "outpope the Pope" ! I am glad that the Swiss referendum firmly rejected your viewpoint.
When I mention Schengen, I also mean all the EU agreements that are linked to it, such as the free movement of cheap labour, which has badly affected our salaries and work prospects. How many Swiss have lost their jobs or have had to accept lower pay due to e.g. cross-border workers who will do the same work for less money?
Greetings Lynx
As a Swiss expat planning to go home soon, I was always a tad amused.
It seemed to me that British immigrants never want equality, but privilege.
It’s a very brave proposal claiming that cheap labour abroad has kept salaries down. It’s more along the lines of divisive rhetoric how Brexit will help with NHS funding, which has proven to be false.
Or, one might ask, did cheap labour have any effect on Thatcher’s policies that singlehandedly destroyed Northeast of England?
Young people like Biscotto98 and Wicketkeeper are our future and helping them have a better future in other countries (should they chose to explore that path) though I also noticed some of your other comments in forum posts how British universities are far superior than Swiss universities.
If they are better, why aren’t you there?
Also, sorry, I could help but laugh noticing more of your rhetoric how cheap labour from abroad has kept salaries down. This might be rude, but are you a skilled doctor or a skilled engineer? What exactly is your status in my country?
Just to let you know that it’s hard to replace qualified doctors and engineers because it takes years and years for them to be qualified.
If your only concern is cheap labour, I can’t help but wonder why such divisive views on your class of people?
It’s fine to want equality and fairness. One cannot expect fairness and progressiveness extended only to them but denied to other, equally important human beings.
I just wish real people like Biscotto98 weren’t affected by such ignorant worldview seeing as they are the ones that have to pay quadruple student fees.
I always thought that I was exaggerating thinking British immigrants wanted privilege, but not equality, yet posts like yours do make me amused.
Why would you want to keep your class of people oppressed? Did cheap labour influence Thatcher’s decision-making?
If you sought to better yourself and become more skilled, there wouldn’t be such a need to tear other people down with such divisive circular thinking.
:)
I already have prepared for worst case after the last mayhem initiative led to restrictions in access to EU Horizon2020 participation by swiss research institutions. I applied for and was awarded a second citizenship. Being a researcher and academic, I enjoy the freedom of movement due to the agreements between Switzerland and the EU now for more than 13 years. I used to live, study and work in Switzerland, United Kingdom and Germany among others and it always was a relatively easy and straight forward process of moving from one country to another. From my experience, the most complicated parts were always on the swiss side. Nonetheless I enjoy being swiss and having the opportunity to link my knowledge and experience across borders. Losing this due to the far-right fantasies of isolation and hatred will be a great loss for many. Not for me so much, as I said, but things will become more complicated even for dual citizens.
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