Many improvements required for the second stage of the care initiative
Published: Saturday, Aug 31st 2024, 09:52
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The majority of political parties and interest groups welcome the draft proposed by the Federal Council for implementing the second stage of the care initiative. However, they are calling for improvements. The hospitals reject the draft law outright.
In May, the Federal Council decided to implement the second stage of the care initiative adopted by the people in 2021 with a "Federal Act on Working Conditions in Care" (BGAP) and an amendment to the existing "Federal Act on Healthcare Professions" (GesBG). The draft decree was in the consultation process until the end of August.
One of the changes is that carers will receive duty rosters at least four weeks in advance and the maximum weekly working hours will be reduced from the current 50 to 45 hours. In future, normal working hours are to be between 38 and 42 hours per week.
With the new draft, the Federal Council also wants to oblige the social partners to enter into talks to improve working conditions and negotiate collective labor agreements (CLAs). The federal government is submitting two variants for consultation.
According to variant one, it should be permissible to deviate from the requirements of the new federal law in a CLA. Variant two stipulates that the new requirements may not be undercut. The Federal Council prefers option one.
SVP rejects CLA obligation
Above all, the SVP "firmly" rejects the obligation of the social partners to negotiate collective employment contracts, as stated in its consultation response. The Federal Council's intervention in the details of employment contracts and the obligation to conclude collective employment contracts would make the healthcare system more expensive and exacerbate the shortage of skilled workers.
The SVP also firmly rejects options for independent billing of the services provided by care experts on the grounds that this would lead to a further increase in volumes. On the other hand, the SVP agrees with practice-based training to become a nursing expert and relieving the burden on doctors through a new division of tasks.
The FDP supports the measures to improve working conditions in the care sector. However, the party says it rejects a "separate labor law for a specific occupational group". The care initiative should be implemented within the existing laws and regulations. At the same time, "centralistic guidelines" should not lead to a weakening of the proven social partnership.
FDP warns of additional costs
The FDP also warns of additional costs of up to one billion francs. If the Federal Council is of the opinion that the measures can be offset by savings in other areas, it should demonstrate this using concrete examples, the party demands. In view of the current financial situation of many hospitals, however, this assumption is questionable.
The centrist party welcomes the fact that the compatibility of the nursing profession with family life would be improved. And by increasing the attractiveness of the nursing profession, the party argues that the shortage of skilled workers in the sector can also be countered. In terms of employee protection, it should only be possible to deviate from the new federal regulations in favor of carers. This corresponds to variant two proposed by the Federal Council.
SP: Unambitious draft
The SP welcomes the Federal Council's draft. However, it considers it to be "unambitious", as the party writes in its statement. However, the proposed obligation to negotiate collective employment contracts is a suitable means of improving working conditions.
The SP thus supports variant two, which stipulates that the results of CLA negotiations must not fall below the minimum standards stipulated in the law.
The Greens and Green Liberals are calling on the Federal Council to incorporate a financing model into the bill in which the cantons, as the level of government responsible for healthcare, should be held accountable. The Greens do not agree with the proposal to dispense with minimum staffing requirements. The Federal Council is thus ignoring a central concern of the care initiative.
The hospital umbrella organization H+ firmly rejects the Federal Council's proposed draft for implementing the second stage of the care initiative in its current form, as it announced. The proposed measures are "immature and unsystematic". They would weaken the proven social partnership and lead to considerable additional costs without the financing being clarified.
Instead of "new centralized guidelines", hospitals need greater entrepreneurial freedom through cost-covering tariffs, writes the association. Hospitals and clinics could then work together with the social partners to offer specialist staff attractive working conditions and ensure the quality of care.
©Keystone/SDA
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