Swiss Senate panel proposes levy on EU workers

Switzerland’s Council of States State Policy Committee has proposed adding a levy on workers from the European Union to the country’s agreement package with the EU, SRF reported. The committee approved the proposal by seven votes to none, with six abstentions.

The levy could be introduced if immigration from the EU rises too sharply after the new bilateral agreements take effect and the government activates an already negotiated safeguard clause. Newly arrived EU workers would pay at least 4,000 Swiss francs a year, according to Andrea Caroni, the committee member who proposed the measure. The amount would be lower for people arriving through family reunification.

Caroni told SRF’s Tagesschau that the Federal Council would first have to successfully invoke the safeguard clause before choosing the levy. The funds collected would be distributed in full to the population.

The committee said the measure would encourage companies to use Switzerland’s domestic workforce. For employed workers, the levy would be collected from companies. Adult family members joining relatives would be liable themselves. The levy would also apply to nationals of non-EU countries once the safeguard clause had been activated.

The Federal Council must examine whether to activate the clause if one of four nationwide thresholds is exceeded: net immigration from the EU, the number of new cross-border workers, the increase in unemployment or the social assistance rate. If one of these thresholds is exceeded nationwide, the government must act.

Caroni said the Federal Council had already proposed other safeguard measures, including quotas, but had overlooked what he called a more refined instrument. He argued that the levy would give companies an incentive to recruit in Switzerland, require newcomers to contribute financially and return money to residents affected by immigration.

The proposal is not new. The Avenir Suisse think tank discussed a similar levy several years ago. Supporters say a properly designed charge could limit immigration while encouraging the arrival of people who generate high economic value. They also argue that redistributing the money to residents would prevent the measure from expanding the state.

Committee also seeks stronger security checks

The committee also wants authorities to assess more consistently whether applicants pose a threat when processing residence applications and notifications. For nationals of EU member states, authorities would examine whether they pose a danger to public security, public order or public health.

For nationals of non-EU countries, the committee said authorities should require a criminal record extract from the person’s country of origin or home country. If the checks identify a relevant threat, the person’s residence could be refused or restricted.

The Federal Council has previously said that a levy on people from EU and European Free Trade Association countries would not be compatible with the agreement on the free movement of persons. According to a report published in May examining three possible levy models, such a measure could also conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights in the case of family members.

The Council of States will consider the full agreement package with the EU during its autumn session.