Swiss committee rejects added dismissal protection in EU treaty package

Switzerland’s Council of States Economic Affairs Committee has recommended implementing the EU treaty package without additional dismissal protection for elected employee representatives, SRF reported.

The committee voted 8 to 4, with one abstention, to remove the 14th measure from the domestic wage protection package. It said after extensive discussions that the measure was not directly linked to the EU package and should therefore not form part of the wage protection measures.

Thirteen of the 14 accompanying measures approved by the Federal Council are largely undisputed. The social partners reached agreement on them after intensive negotiations. The proposed protection against dismissal for employee representatives has remained controversial for some time.

The Swiss Trade Union Federation described the measure as a minimum solution that must remain an essential part of the package. Employee representatives take on significant responsibility at company level but currently have little protection against dismissal, the federation said.

The Swiss Employers Confederation was initially sceptical but signalled in June that it was open to an agreement. Director Roland Müller said the employers would probably support the measure if parliamentary negotiations did not add burdens for employers. However, he said the organisation would assess the complex package only after both chambers of parliament had considered it.

The Council of States, parliament’s smaller chamber, is expected to debate the package during its autumn session.