5 Concessions for Switzerland The Swiss negotiators extracted some concessions from their counterparts in Brussels. For example, Switzerland will be able to restrict EU immigration to workers. This will prevent EU citizens from moving to Switzerland solely to receive higher social security payouts than in their home country. The agreement also includes a safeguard clause that will allow Switzerland to limit immigration if “serious economic or social problems” arise. When and how this clause would be triggered is still a matter for debate in Switzerland. Wage protection also remains a tricky issue. The principle of equal pay for equal work in the same location continues to apply across Europe. This safeguards Switzerland’s high wage levels by stopping EU companies from undercutting local salaries. However, trade unions are unwilling to accept EU rules on expenses, which would require foreign employers to cover accommodation, meals and other expenses in Switzerland based on rates in their home country. This, for example, would mean that a Polish worker doing a stint on a Swiss building site would only be paid the same amount for board and lodging that they would receive in Poland. Even the Swiss Employers’ Association calls the practice “grotesque”. Employer and employee organisations, therefore, want to force the Federal Council and parliament to declare in law that Swiss rates should apply to expenses as well as wages. The Swiss Trade Union Federation has cited this as one of the preconditions for its support of the Swiss-EU deal in any future popular vote. The Federal Council intends to clarify all outstanding points by summer, before conducting a consultation on Illustration: Max Spring Swiss Review / April 2025 / No.2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjYwNzMx