Businesses reject foreign worker tax

Tuesday, 9 July 2024 06:30

The government is reportedly considering a tax on hiring foreign workers.

Any firm bringing in workers from outside the EU would have to pay either a one-off fee of around half the annual salary of the worker, or an annual fee of between CHF 5,000 and CHF 30,000.

While the idea has been discussed before, it’s reappeared because of the anti-immigration popular initiative launched by the Swiss People’s Party; ‘No Switzerland with 10 million’.

The idea is already being rejected by businesses. The head economist at the umbrella organisation EconomieSuisse, Rodolf Minsch, says qualified immigrants benefit the economy and pay their way through tax.

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