Executive Summary

On 11 February 2026, the Federal Council decided on amendments to the wage protection measures package, which is part of Bilateral III between Switzerland and the EU. Measure 14 aims to strengthen social partnership in the workplace and thereby secure wage standards. The amendments are based on consultation results and intensive discussions with employers and employees.

Persons

  • Federal Council (collective institution)

Topics

  • Wage protection
  • Social partnership
  • Bilateral III (Switzerland-EU)
  • Labour market policy

Clarus Lead

The Federal Council has approved a revised wage protection measures package for Bilateral III with the EU. The centrepiece is Measure 14, which is intended to intensify cooperation between employers and employees at the workplace level. This adjustment is intended to secure wage standards and thus prevent dumping practices in the internal market – a central concern for decision-makers in business and the social economy.

The revisions were driven by the public consultation as well as by constructive dialogues with social partners and will flow directly into the parliamentary message.

Detailed Summary

Switzerland and the EU are negotiating a modernisation of their relations within the framework of Bilateral III. One focus is on protecting wage standards to avoid competitive distortions. The domestic measures package contains several instruments; Measure 14 addresses the workplace level.

By strengthening social partnership in the workplace, employers and employees should be able to jointly define and monitor wage standards. This reduces incentives for wage dumping and creates transparency. The recent amendments take into account feedback from the public consultation as well as positions from trade unions and employer associations.

The revised measure will be included in the Federal Council's message on the entire Switzerland-EU package (Bilateral III), which will be submitted to Parliament. This enables coordinated treatment of all elements of the negotiations.

Key Messages

  • The Federal Council has adjusted wage protection measures within the framework of Bilateral III
  • Measure 14 strengthens social partnership at the workplace level as a wage protection instrument
  • Amendments are based on consultation results and social partner dialogues
  • The measures are to flow into the parliamentary message

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: What empirical data shows that strengthened workplace social partnership demonstrably prevents wage dumping? How are successes measured?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent have employer associations and trade unions influenced the design of Measure 14, and where do their respective positions differ?

  3. Causality: Is strengthening social partnership the main cause of wage protection, or are other factors (minimum wages, inspections) more decisive?

  4. Feasibility: How is compliance with this measure ensured in smaller companies without established social partnership structures? What sanctions are provided for?

  5. Alternatives: Were other wage protection models (e.g. statutory minimum wages, sectoral collective agreements) evaluated and rejected?

  6. Timing: Why is this adjustment being made only now, and what delays result from the retroactive adjustment for Bilateral III?

Sources

Primary Source: Wage Protection: Measure to Strengthen Social Partnership in the Workplace – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/lmnel6ZuZ4EYaTgKwP3vN

Verification Status: ✓ 11 February 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 11 February 2026