Council of States committee puts EU treaty package at risk

A committee of Switzerland’s Council of States has moved to remove enhanced protection against dismissal for elected employee representatives from a wage protection package, putting the country’s treaty package with the European Union at risk, SRF reported.

The committee’s decision rejects a compromise reached by employer organisations and trade unions. The compromise contains 14 measures intended to protect wages in Switzerland.

SP co-president Cédric Wermuth described the decision as a direct attack on the Bilaterals III agreements, with support from the FDP. He said the social partners had agreed on the package, including greater protection against dismissal for elected employee representatives.

Wermuth called on the FDP to support the wage protection measures and the enhanced dismissal protection. The FDP said the demand from trade unions was unfounded, but reaffirmed its support for the EU treaty package.

The committee also wants to retain a requirement for foreign companies to pay a deposit before carrying out work in Switzerland. Under a proposed change, only companies that had previously breached wage regulations would have to pay one.

The committee’s decision has also divided the Mitte party. Several of its members on the committee opposed the social partners’ compromise, while Mitte Council of States member Pirmin Bischof continued to support it. He said the EU package was now at even greater risk and warned that it could eventually collapse if pressure continued to be applied.

Bischof also cautioned that trade unions could ultimately bring down the EU package if parliament removed individual wage protection measures.

SVP Council of States member Werner Salzmann said the committee’s clear support for the change could encourage opponents of the EU package. He argued that groups such as employee representatives should not receive preferential treatment.

The Council of States as a whole is due to decide on the wage protection measures in the autumn. The National Council will also consider the issue.