Demonstrators demand rights for illegal immigrants

Children joined their parents as thousands demonstrated outside the parliament building Keystone

Thousands of people marched through the Swiss capital, Bern, on Saturday to call for collective rights for illegal immigrants.

Demonstrators also demanded an immediate halt to deportations, a minimum wage of SFr3,000 for illegal workers and an improvement in their living and working conditions.

The protest, which was organised by national campaigners and local groups, received support from more than 150 organisations, including the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions.

Banners bearing messages such as “Solidarity with illegal immigrants”, “Against modern-day slavery” and “No man is illegal” were waved outside the parliament building.

Police said 6,000 people attended the demonstration, while organisers put the figure as high as 10,000.

Addressing the rally, Christiane Brunner, president of the Social Democratic Party, accused ministers of “hypocrisy”, arguing that it was against the spirit of the law and democracy to employ people and then refuse to grant them any rights.

Rights for illegal immigrants

Brunner assured demonstrators that as long as everyone remained united, they would succeed in winning rights for illegal immigrants.

“This should send a clear signal to Parliament,” added Sandra Modica, from the movement backing illegal immigrants in Fribourg.

The issue of illegal immigrants has become a political hot potato in Switzerland, brought to the fore by a series of church occupations across the country earlier this year.

The biggest occupation took place in Fribourg where 80 people from 14 different countries staged a 12-week sit-in. The group included people whose temporary asylum status or temporary work permits had expired. Many had settled in Switzerland and started families.

A recent study by the Swiss Forum for Migration Studies said there were between 70,000 and 180,000 illegal immigrants in Switzerland, but some believe the figure could be as high as 300,000.

Campaigners want the government to grant a blanket amnesty to clandestine workers, but ministers are insisting that the problem must be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The issue will be put before a parliamentary advisory committee on December 6.


swissinfo with agencies