Swiss government announces more checks on foreign workers

Yesterday, the Swiss government said it would step up checks on foreign workers. The new plans are designed to increase the effectiveness of controls and include more funding and better training for those tasked with the job.

The number of checks is expected to rise 30% from 27,000 to 35,000 per year.

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In 2004, the Swiss government introduced new rules to reduce the risk of Swiss workers having their pay undercut by a flood of cheaper workers from the EU. The move was a response to the 2002 bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU and EFTA countries allowing free movement of people. In particular the rules took aim at seconded and self-employed workers.

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In 2016, the government increased sanctions from CHF 5,000 to CHF 30,000 for errant employers.

Since 2013 the federal government has been auditing companies often focussing on trying to identify self-employed contractors where the relationship between the worker and employer is closer to employment than independent service provision, so called false contractors.

More on this:
SECO communiqué (in French) - Take a 5 minute French test now
SECO communiqué (in German)

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