Switzerland - Council of States backs unions' wage protection package - September 30, 2026

On 30 September, during its debate on the Bilaterals III treaty package with the EU, the Council of States adopted all 14 wage protection measures. The package was negotiated by unions, employers and the federal Government to safeguard wages when the country adopts EU law. The chamber reversed its economic committee, which had sought to weaken the package. It also approved the contested "measure 14", which strengthens protection against dismissal for employee and union representatives, by 26 votes to 19. The SGB union confederation called the vote "an important, necessary step". It stressed that workplace representatives must be able to intervene when they detect wage or working-condition problems. However, the SGB criticised the chamber's decision to introduce an immigration levy as a mistake.

Read on: in German…

More information: https://www.etui.org/newsletters