Because the Swiss parliament begins its summer time session on June 2nd, deputies will deal with some as yet-unresolved issues. Here is what’s on the road.
Wages
There isn’t a nationwide minimal wage laws in Switzerland, and thus far solely 5 cantons — Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Ticino, and Basel-Metropolis — have launched minimal pay on their territories.
Nevertheless, some MPs have argued that cantonal wage legal guidelines ought to now not be allowed to override the salaries set out in collective labour agreements (CLA).
Negotiated between employers and commerce unions, CLAs cowl a minimal wage for every sort of labor.
The deputies will subsequently debate whether or not CLAs can cancel out minimal wage legal guidelines within the cantons the place this laws exists.
Taxes
MPs will come again to the nonetheless unresolved concern of taxation of married {couples}.
In March, the slim majority of deputies within the Council of States authorised a reform of the longstanding laws by permitting separate, reasonably than joint, taxation of spouses.
In the present day, married {couples} are taxed collectively, which implies that if each companions are employed, they usually must pay increased taxes than single {couples} submitting individually.
Their earnings is added (and taxed) collectively no matter who made what.
However the below the draft legislation, which might be fine-tuned by the Nationwide Council throughout the summer time session — the earnings and property of married {couples} are to be taxed individually.
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Parental go away
There have been quite a few requires the creation of uniform parental go away on the Swiss degree (proper now, it’s left as much as cantons).
Subsequently, MPs will debate supporters‘ arguments about whether or not the introduction of nationwide parental go away might certainly contribute to strengthening equality between ladies and men, and bettering the reconciliation of household {and professional} life.
On the identical time, propents say, younger mother and father, particularly girls, could be inspired to stay within the workforce, thus serving to to fight the labor scarcity.
Stalking
The Council of States will deal with the movement to incorporate ‘obsessive harassment’ — concretely, stalking — within the Legal Code.
That’s as a result of obsessive stalking, in line with MPs, “restricts the liberty and particular person way of life” of its victims. It may trigger psychological, social, and financial hurt.
Nevertheless, the present authorized framework is inadequate to punish obsessive stalking (particularly if no different offense is dedicated).
Subsequently, “it’s needed, on the one hand, to complement the offences of threats and coercion within the particular a part of the Legal Code and, alternatively, to search out options for the appliance of the legislation in instances of cyberstalking.”
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Ban on the usage of extremist symbols
The deputies may even debate a proposed ban on the general public use of extremist, racist, or violence-promoting symbols.
The reason being that present laws “doesn’t adequately take into account the results of sure symbols on third events,” the MPs who submitted this movement argue.
“Tolerating these symbols quantities to tolerating the ideologies to which they relate. Their use should subsequently be criminalised.”
Subsequently, anybody who violates the ban and publicly might be punished; deputies will determine on the penalty.
Decrease TV license charge
It is a obligatory charge (additionally known as ‘tax’) paid just about all Swiss households, with proceeds used to fund public broadcasters and different TV and radio stations throughout Switzerland.
The present charge of 335 francs a yr per family will drop to 312 francs by 2027, after which to 300 francs from 2029.
Nevertheless, a referendum is looking for the charge to be lowered to 200 francs to alleviate low-income individuals in addition to those that don’t personal a TV set.
Throughout the spring session, MPs will weigh in on this proposal.
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Repression of overseas communities
Based on the Federal Council, some communities repressed in their very own international locations and now dwelling in Switzerland are being monitored and even intimidated by their governments.
“Members of those communities are subsequently unable to completely take pleasure in the person freedoms assured by Switzerland, which constitutes an unacceptable interference in Swiss sovereignty,” the federal government mentioned.
Because of this, it’s needed to right away strengthen measures to guard these weak communities dwelling in Switzerland — a problem the MPs will debate in June.
