In December 2024, Brussels and Bern reached a substantive agreement on new treaties to regulate future relations. It was already apparent during the exploratory talks with the EU that the level of Swiss wage protection would have to be secured with domestic policy measures.
Social partners, cantons and Federal Council agreed that in addition to the outcome of the foreign policy negotiations on a three-part protection concept for wage levels, domestic policy measures for wage protection were needed. The measures listed in the “common understanding” can be divided into three categories.
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Swiss Trade Union warns EU deal could threaten wages
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The Swiss Trade Union Federation warns that the new bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU could threaten wage protection and public services.
The first category includes measures where no agreement could be reached with Brussels. This includes, for example, the expenses regulations for employees posted to Switzerland. In order to find a solution here, maximum use is to be made of the domestic political leeway.
A second category includes measures to directly compensate for concessions made to the EU, such as the shortened pre-notification period for posted workers.
And measures to allay fears that the ban on services could come under pressure as a sanction option form the third block. However, the Federal Council considers it necessary to take further measures to protect wages.
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