Bilaterals III: Business supports the package and calls for a business-friendly implementation

​economiesuisse and the Swiss Employers' Association discussed the Bilaterals III package at a joint meeting of their executive committees on July 10 and adopted an initial position. Prior to this meeting, both umbrella organizations extensively consulted their members. They believe that the agreements form a solid basis for stabilizing and further developing the bilateral approach. "The business community welcomes the package of agreements negotiated with the EU and supports it," says Christoph Mäder, Chairman of economiesuisse. Severin Moser, President of the Swiss Employers' Association, adds to the joint position of the business umbrella organizations: "What is crucial now is to ensure a lean and business-friendly implementation into Swiss legislation."

Focus on market access and location attractiveness

The agreements require adjustments to various Swiss laws. economiesuisse and the Swiss Employers' Association agree in principle with the domestic implementation as proposed in the consultation process, but have some key demands:

• ​Firstly, the agreements must be implemented in Swiss legislation in a lean and business-friendly manner. The aim must be to ensure both optimal market access to the EU and attractive conditions in Switzerland.
• Secondly, the flexible labor market must be preserved. Measures 1-13 defined by the social partners are supported by employers as a package. They effectively ensure wage protection without interfering with the liberal labor market. However, measure 14 proposed by the Federal Council in the area of protection against dismissal is clearly rejected.
• Thirdly, the business community supports the safeguard clause in the area of immigration specified in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. This must be applied consistently. It is also essential that the design of the safeguard clause and other aspects be reviewed in depth. It must be ensured that the social partners are systematically involved in the decision-making process.

Continuation of the bilateral approach in the interests of Switzerland

The detailed consultation responses of the two associations will be adopted by the relevant bodies of economiesuisse and the Swiss Employers' Association by the end of the consultation period. The parliamentary process for domestic implementation will then begin. economiesuisse and the Swiss Employers' Association will play a constructive role in this process. The two associations will make a final assessment of the overall package once the parliamentary deliberations have been concluded.

For the business community, one thing is clear: the bilateral approach has been a success for over 25 years. It is in the interests of Switzerland as a business location, the labor market, social security systems, and the population to continue on the bilateral approach.

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