FDP President envisages an immigration tax for companies
Published: Monday, Sep 2nd 2024, 05:50
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FDP President Thierry Burkart has spoken out in favor of an immigration levy for Swiss companies in the negotiations with the European Union. In an interview with the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" newspaper, he said that Switzerland could examine its own instruments in the area of the free movement of persons.
Local companies attract skilled workers from abroad who contribute to prosperity here, said Burkart in an interview with the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" published on Monday.
At the same time, more people would also generate more costs, Burkart explained. For example, more teachers and doctors would be needed. "With a levy, it would be up to companies to weigh up these advantages and disadvantages," he said.
For the FDP President, it is clear that a safeguard clause is needed "that allows Switzerland to effectively regulate immigration". The EU must make concessions to Switzerland here. In addition to possible instruments of its own - such as the immigration levy - it is also up to Switzerland to correct false incentives.
Abolish numerus clausus
According to Burkart, the numerus clausus for admission to medical studies, for example, should be abolished. "It is unacceptable that we make it so difficult for Swiss students to access medical studies and at the same time have to bring in 40% of doctors from abroad," said the party president.
According to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland and the EU are negotiating "hard, but solution-oriented" in the area of the free movement of persons. A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said this to the Keystone-SDA news agency at the beginning of July. The negotiations must be continued intensively. The negotiations between Switzerland and the EU should be concluded by the end of 2024.
©Keystone/SDA
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