Swiss business associations call for less red tape

Swiss business associations would like to see less regulation and bureaucracy. Keystone-SDA

Swiss companies could save CHF30 billion ($37 billion) a year by reducing bureaucracy, according to leading business associations.

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Excessive regulations and high costs for bureaucracy are a burden on businesses and inhibit growth, declared economiesuisse, the Swiss Union of Arts and Crafts, the Swiss Employers’ Association and the Swiss Farmers’ Union on Monday in a press statement. At the halfway point of the legislative period, it is clear that the number of regulations is continuing to grow, they claim.

The associations cite figures based on a study presented in Bern on Monday. According to the survey, avoidable bureaucratic costs amount to CHF30 billion per year. If companies had less administrative work, they would have an additional 55,000 full-time positions at their disposal in terms of capacity, they calculate.

The associations said the Federal Council’s intention to reduce the burden on companies must now be followed by action. They are calling for a halt to new sustainability regulations and a rethink of environmental and energy regulations.

Adapted from German by DeepL/sb

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