Wage controls – dumping wages In Swiss firms as common as in the EU-KonkurrenzEU companies are under General suspicion, to press in Switzerland the wages. Now analysis shows that violations of minimum wages are in Swiss companies at least as often. Luca De Carli39 Kommentare39Übernehmen a large part of the wage and labour controls in Switzerland: A trade unionist of the Unia in use on a construction site.Photo: Gaetan Bally/Keystone
In three months will be voted on. Due to the termination of the initiative of the SVP with the free movement of persons with the EU being particularly in focus. A topic in the vote fight will be the accusation that EU companies suppressed wages in Switzerland.
On Thursday, is the latest report from the state Secretariat for economic Affairs (Seco), the accompanying measures. They are there to prevent wage dumping. Around 41’000 farms have been inspected in the last year, whether they comply with the Swiss legislation on mini wage and working conditions. Were reviewed EU companies, the seconded employees for jobs in Switzerland, self-employed persons from the EU, but also Swiss companies.
show controls: wage dumping is a Swiss company, which has become at least as frequently as in the case of companies Posting workers from the EU. In sectors where a collective employment agreement (CEA) applies, have been discovered in the last year, 21 percent of the EU firms alleged violations of the wage provisions. The rate among Swiss companies was 27 percent. In the case of EU firms in Switzerland, employees can be controlled, in the case of a Swiss company, the entire workforce. 2019 were detected in 21 percent of the controlled employee of a Swiss company to low wages.
In industries with CEA are the controls undertaken jointly by unions and employers. Nico Lutz, head of sector-construction at trade Union Unia, confirmed the result of the report of the Seco. “Also we found in our inspections that there are violations of wage requirements hardly any differences between Swiss and EU companies,” says Lutz. Violations in one-fifth of the cases, but still too many. “This shows that it takes the controls.” The Seco says that the rate was not representative for the overall situation on the Swiss labour market. Because it is tightly controlled there, where wage dumping is suspected. “It is now controlled better than in the past,” says Boris Zürcher, head of the labour Directorate at Seco.
Even more amazing is that is why: some years Ago, wage dumping, and the EU sending company far more frequently. So in 2012 were found in 42 percent of the control violations. Since then, the rates of the foreign companies have aligned with those of the locals. According to Lutz, a learning effect is in the case of the sending company’s fixable. Many companies from to the border would regularly send employees to Switzerland. “You will be caught once because of wage dumping and fined, the.”
“Many companies now know the rules of the game in Switzerland,” said Daniel Lampart, chief economist of the Confederation of trade unions. You know, in the meantime, what is threatening them here in the case of wage dumping. So is set in many collective agreements, that the acceptance of an order, a Deposit must be paid. The client are jointly and severally liable for their subcontractors. And against repeat offenders is a lock for Switzerland can be pronounced. Also, Seco is referred to as a “learning process” at the sending company. You have achieved what you wanted to achieve with the accompanying measures.
Less violations in industries without GAV
discovered is striking: In sectors without a collective labor agreement can be significantly demonstrated fewer companies violations of the wage provisions. 11 percent of the controlled Swiss companies have paid in 2019 to low wages and 15 per cent of the EU posting of workers holdings. These values have changed in the last few years, also, hardly. In industries without a CEA official control with trade unions and employers.
In industries with a CEA would not be controlled, only much stronger, ‘ says Nico Lutz from the trade Union Unia. The controls are also easier. In such industries, there is a unique minimum wage. “Without a CBA is a violation of the local needs and industry, prevailing wage provisions to be demonstrated.” This let the company much more room to play.
Also, some of the cantons would push in case of deviations against the wage requirements, a eye, because you are working with tolerances, said Daniel Lampart from the trade Union Confederation. And instead of buses offending companies would have to expect in such industries only with a written warning.
Big differences between the cantons, shows the report by the Seco. Striking they are, especially when dealing with controlled Swiss companies: it Pays a company in an industry without GAV repeatedly to low wages, can be initiated by the cantons, a so-called mutual agreement procedure. Last year, the Canton of Zurich included, for example, 221 procedure of the Canton of Bern, only 7.
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