Increased control of foreign workers assigned from abroad

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Foreign postings of employees to Switzerland will continue to be increasingly controlled.

The controls are to be increased by 30% in 2017, from 27,000 to 35,000.

The Swiss Federal Council is currently considering further enhancements which are aimed at ensuring sufficient levels of control.

Starting in 2016 the parliament has already increased fines for violations to Swiss Labor laws from 5’000 to 30’000 CHF.

Controls that can be expected are as follows:

  • Direct questioning of the foreign employee
  • Verification of compliance to regulations concerning the workplace in Switzerland, e.g. if work hours and rest periods are maintained according to the Swiss Labor Code
  • Verification of the payments to foreign employees (salary, allowances, board and lodge etc.) by having to show copies of bank transfers to the employees

If you have further questions concerning this topic feel free to contact us at International HR Services AG.

 

 

Immigration under Trump

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The future of immigration / expatriation into US

Based on Trump’s election program following points can be expected:

Reformation of legal immigration to serve the best interests of America and its workers, keeping immigration levels within historic norms.

  • Prioritize the jobs, wages and security of the American people.
  • Protect the economic well-being of the lawful immigrants already living here by curbing uncontrolled foreign worker admissions.
  • Establish new immigration controls to boost wages and to ensure that open jobs are offered to American workers first.
  • Select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in the U.S. and their ability to be financially self-sufficient.
  • Establish new immigration controls to boost wages and to ensure that open jobs are offered to American workers first.
  • Immigration of foreign workers will be restricted.

The issuance of visas to any place where adequate screening cannot occur will be suspended, until proven and effective vetting mechanisms can be put into place.

A biometric entry-exit visa tracking system will be fully implemented at all land, air and sea ports.

Consequences of illegal work:
Anyone who illegally crosses the border will be detained until they are removed out of the US.

For further questions, please contact International HR Services Ltd.

BREXIT – important information

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Scheme existing agreements EU EFTA CH
Free movement of goods, services and capital Yes Yes Yes
Free movement of people Yes Yes Yes
Free to negotiate trade deals and set tariff levels with non-EU countries No Yes Yes
EU laws and regulation; Influence Yes Very limited No
EU laws and regulation; Compliance Yes Yes Yes, with exceptions
Fiscal contribution Yes Yes, 85%

of full rate

 Yes, 52%

of full rate
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Yes No No

 

What does this mean in respect to the hanging Mass Immigration Initiative? The sovereign’s decision has to be implemented by February 2017. A prompt agreement with the EU regarding the the contentious “safeguard clause” however moves into the far future. On Brussel’s priority list, Switzerland moves back.

Possibilities for next steps:

  • Switzerland allies itself with the UK
  • Switzerland awaits further exists of EU countries
  • A new union is built
  • The EU restructures itself and goes about new negotiations with Switzerland

Until a final exit, the UK exerts EU rules for the next 2 years. During this period, Switzerland must renegotiate the economic relations with the UK – mainly the Free Trade Agreement – but also many other domains which until now were regulated over the Bilateral Treaties I and II (Air transport, movement of persons, cooperation in sciences, taxation, security ecc.)