Free Movement of Persons – Labor Market Without Boundaries
After the rejection of being part of the European Economic Area by the Swiss population on December 6th 1992, the Bundesrat (Federal Council of Switzerland) decided to start bilateral negotiations with the EU in regard to different topics including the free movement of persons. The negotiations were completed on December 11th 1998 in Vienna. On June 21st 1999 the negotiation parties signed seven agreements in Luxembourg. The bilateral contracts were accepted by the Swiss population with a clear majority on May 21st 2000. In May 2004 the EU grew by accepting ten new countries from Eastern Europe as members: Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta. The free movement of persons between Switzerland and the European Union brings along with it changes for international and local employees. Today most transition periods have expired. May 1st 2011 the last restrictions for the new EU countries (EU-8, without EU-2 Bulgaria and Romania) will expire. Consequently persons from EU states (EU-15 and EU-8) can work in Switzerland without any restrictions.
The rules for the 120-day-permits and the obligation to register for service providers remain the same. That means that all persons who work longer than 8 days in Switzerland must register with the authorities or possess a working permit valid for 120 days. |
