Summary
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published its annual report on flanking measures (FlaM) on 17 June 2026. In 2025, the wages and working conditions of 147,286 persons in 38,567 companies were inspected. The minimum inspection target of 35,000 company inspections was achieved once again. The inspections covered all regions and sectors; the enforcement authorities employed a risk-based procedure. In total, 1,800 settlement proceedings were initiated and 675 sanctions were imposed for minimum wage violations.
Persons
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO (Swiss Federal Authority)
Topics
- Flanking Measures (FlaM)
- Wage protection and working conditions
- Labour market monitoring
- Posting companies and minimum wages
Clarus Lead
The systematic monitoring of wages and working conditions remains a central instrument of Swiss labour market policy. The violation rate among posting companies (24% in sectors with collective labour agreements) points to persistent compliance problems – particularly in cross-border employment relationships. Suspected cases of bogus self-employment (9% among EU/EFTA service providers) signal new risks in atypical employment forms that could require adjustments to the control framework.
Detailed Summary
Flanking measures serve as a protection mechanism against wage dumping and labour exploitation. The risk-based inspection strategy focuses on sectors and company types with elevated violation risks. Posting companies are particularly critical: parity commissions identified violations in 24% of cases, cantonal tripartite commissions reported undercutting of customary wages in 21% of cases and violations by 10% of Swiss employers. Among self-employed service providers from the EU/EFTA area, bogus self-employment was suspected in 9% of cases – an indication of grey-zone employment.
The response to identified violations occurs in two stages: cantonal TPCs initially conduct settlement proceedings (2025: 1,800 proceedings). In parallel, 675 sanctions were imposed for minimum wage violations. This combination of dialogue and enforcement is intended to both promote compliance and have a deterrent effect.
Key Findings
- 147,286 persons and 38,567 companies were inspected in 2025; minimum target of 35,000 company inspections achieved
- Posting companies show the highest violation rates (24% in sectors with collective labour agreements)
- 1,800 settlement proceedings initiated; 675 sanctions imposed
- Bogus self-employment among EU/EFTA service providers suspected in 9% of cases
Critical Questions
Data Quality: How is it ensured that the risk-based selection of inspected companies does not systematically underrepresent certain sectors or regions?
Effectiveness of Sanctions: What proportion of the 675 sanctions resulted in actual wage payment or recovery? What is the compliance rate following settlement proceedings?
Bogus Self-Employment Definition: According to which criteria is bogus self-employment suspected in 9% of cases? How many of these suspected cases led to investigations or sanctions?
Posting Company Inspections: Why do violation rates differ between parity commissions (24%) and cantonal TPCs (21%)? Are these differences methodological or regional in nature?
Resource Allocation: How have the funding and staffing of inspection authorities developed since 2024, given the increasing complexity of atypical employment?
Sector Focus: Which three sectors showed the highest violation rates in 2025? Are there differences between sectors with and without collective labour agreements?
Source Index
Primary Source: Report Flanking Measures 2025 – State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Verification Status: ✓ 17.06.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 17.06.2026