Swiss Committee Proposes Immigration Tax on European Workers

A committee in Switzerland's upper house of parliament is pushing for an immigration tax on European workers, going beyond the federal government's proposals within the framework of the Bilaterals III agreements. The Political Institutions Commission of the Council of States voted to introduce an "incentive tax" as an additional protective measure.

The Bilaterals III package revises rules for the free movement of people, aiming to grant EU citizens better access to Switzerland. While the federal government has outlined national protective measures like a safeguard clause, the commission's proposal introduces a new financial instrument. This immigration tax would be levied on employers for salaried workers and on adult family members entering Switzerland through family reunification.

The commission believes this tax will encourage Swiss employers to tap into the domestic labor market. Revenue generated from the tax is intended to be redistributed to the population. The proposal also stipulates that the tax would apply to third-country nationals once the safeguard clause is activated. This idea has been previously floated by parliamentarians and emerged as a counter-proposal to a popular initiative rejected by voters.

Beyond the tax, the commission also seeks to enhance security controls. It advocates for systematically examining whether EU nationals applying for residency pose a threat to public security, order, or health. For third-country nationals, the requirement of a criminal record from their country of origin or residence would be mandatory, with potential refusal or restriction of stay if they are deemed a threat.