Large companies, little training
To what extent do top Swiss companies invest in apprenticeships? (SRF/swissinfo.ch)
Immigration curbs approved by Swiss voters in February 2014 are expected to lead to a shortage of skilled labour. Apprenticeships are seen by some as one way of tackling that domestically.
The conservative right Swiss People’s Party was behind the initiative, which was narrowly voted in. The government has until February 2017 to implement the quotas of foreign workers, including from the European Union.
Measures being studied to address the lack of skilled workers include further training, integration of the older workforce and steps to improve the balance between work and family.
Swiss public television, SRF, surveyed the top Swiss Market Index (SMI) companies, and looking at how the proposed measures are currently being addressed by these large companies.
The SMI is a list of the 20 largest companies being traded on Swiss stock exchanges. The survey found, among other things, that SMI companies were doing little to promote apprenticeship schemes.
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