sponsored with funds of the European Union
Switzerland (CH)
Employment
Swiss agriculture employs 18,361 workers throughout the year and 12,303 part-time/seasonal workers. According to estimates there are another 8,000 persons from countries outside EU/EFTA working full-time or part-time 'sans papier' (without a work permit).
International Comparison of Employment
Wages and Labour Costs
In Switzerland there is no uniform framework for agriculture because agriculture is not covered by the labour law. Every canton has its own rules, which may vary a lot. Wages also differ very much between cantons. There is an agreement on wage guidelines for non-family members as workers in Swiss agriculture which the Swiss Farmers' Association and the Swiss Association of Professional Bodies of Agricultural Workers have concluded. However, this guideline is not binding! Wages may be lower, and partly they are. According to the guideline employees working independently with less than 5 years of experience earn between CHF 3,400 and 4,150 (about € 2,056 - 2,510). The minimum wage for employees from the new EU member countries is CHF 3,020. For the comparison in the Table we have assumed CHF 3,400 for a 55-hour week. That is equivalent to an hourly wage of CHF 14.23 (€ 8.61).
Employees pay about 15 % of their wage as welfare insurance contributions (state pension scheme/disability insurance/unemployment/accident/health insurance/daily sickness allowance, etc.) as well as 1-10 %, depending on their age, for a private pension scheme (obligatory).
For accommodation they have to pay CHF 345 (€ 209) per month, for food CHF 645 (€ 390) per month.
Employers have to pay about 16 % + 1-10 %, depending on age, as welfare insurance contribution for the private pension scheme for their workers.
Income tax depends on the income level, on the marital status (married or single) and on the number of children (0 % - 15 %). The tax rates vary depending on the canton.
International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs
Working Time
Under the cantonal standard employment contracts it is allowed to work, e. g., 66 hours in summer and 55 h in winter in Glarus, 55 hours on year's average in Zürich, 49 h in Geneva, 48 hours for long-term employed workers in Wallis (others 55 h!). In most cantons the average working time per week is 55 hours! For overtime (in excess of the maximum mentioned above) a 25 % bonus 'must' be paid.
International Comparison of Working Time
Leave and Paid Holidays
The duration of the holiday is 4 weeks in a number of cantons, 5 weeks for workers over 50.
Public holidays: In most cantons work on public holidays is allowable without any bonus. Some cantons have 1 national holiday (August 1, national holiday) and usually 8 or 9 cantonal holidays (100 % bonus or compensation by extra time off).
International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays
Social Insurance
There are 2 systems: the state pension and surviving dependants insurance costing 5.05 % (to be paid from the first franc earned) and the second pillar, BVG (private pension insurance). It is only mandatory for an annual income in excess of 24,000. So a person earning 3,000 per month is only insured with BVG for 1,000, which is about 2 % of the total wage after 25 years. The higher the wage and the age the higher this rate (up to 10 %).
The Swiss welfare insurance scheme is financed by insurance contributions. There is a pension insurance fund of Swiss agriculture, cantonal pension and surviving dependants insurance (state) and 2 private pension insurances (German and French speaking part of Switzerland) for BVG.
Occupational Health and Safety
Out of 54 industries agriculture holds rank 4 for accident numbers, rank 5 for accident-related absence from work (in agriculture people are 'rarely' ill, and premiums are accordingly low) and rank 7 for accident-related costs (e. g. rehabilitation).
Data for 2005 cf. Table.
International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
Workers in agriculture are organised in the trade union UNIA. Where there is trade union activity (not only UNIA) improvements have been achieved, e. g. in the cantons of Geneva, Waadt. In the cantons of Bern, Aargau and Zürich trade union activity is on the increase. In general there is higher trade union presence in the French speaking part of Switzerland than in the other regions. Campaigns are difficult and do not have priority in UNIA. In 2007 there is a campaign for creating a uniform binding national contract, demanding equal minimum wages and working times for Switzerland and for putting agriculture under the labour law!
International Comparison of Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
There is no statutory minimum wage. A number of cantons have defined a relatively binding minimum wage in cantonal legislation, which also applies to agriculture (e. g. canton of Waadt CHF 3,104 / € 1,877, Geneva CHF 3,160 / € 1,887). The minimum wage for employees from the new EU member countries is CHF 3,020 / € 1,827.
The wage level in Switzerland is very high compared with the European Union, and so is the cost of living, etc. UNIA made a comparison with conditions in France (Geneva region) and found that the 'high' wages are relative. Lower contributions to welfare insurance and higher working time without bonuses, etc. show that the actual difference between Switzerland and France is + 10 %-20 %.
When it comes to minimum standards the wholesale groups Migros and Coop play an important role because of certification under Eurepgap/Swissgap and BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) for their producers (farmers). According to UNIA this is just eyewash in order to reduce the need for statutory regulation and to appear friendly to the consumer. Switzerland has not signed ILO Convention 184 (Health and safety at work in agriculture). Neither have the European countries! The Swiss Farmers Association SBV and especially the Swiss Vegetable Farmers Association are against any collective agreement.
International Comparison of Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation
UNIA is a member of the Swiss Trade Union Federation (SGB). It is involved in monitoring commissions (accident insurance, political bodies, etc.) as well as in the platform for socially sustainable agriculture (mainly Western Switzerland). Other (regional) trade unions are active in monitoring commissions, etc., as well as in the platform for socially sustainable agriculture at the level of cantons.
International Comparison of Trade Union Participation
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