Planned extension of compulsory civil defense meets with resistance
Published: Wednesday, May 8th 2024, 11:40
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The Federal Council is changing its plans to increase the number of civil defense personnel. The consultation on amendments to the law has shown that the provisions on the obligation of persons liable for civilian service in civil defense have met with political resistance.
The Federal Council therefore decided to split the planned partial revision of the Civil Protection Act into two parts: a bill on the integration of persons liable for civilian service and a bill on the other changes. This was announced by the federal government on Wednesday.
The Federal Council is splitting the bills so that the non-controversial parts of the revision are not delayed or rejected in the event of a referendum. The two bills will now go to parliament.
60,000 instead of 72,000 civil defense personnel
The Federal Council announced the revision plans in January 2023. The aim is to eliminate understaffing in civil defense. Around ten years ago, it was decided that there should be 72,000 civil defense personnel in Switzerland. However, there were only 60,000 at the beginning of the year, and the number could fall further to around 50,000 by 2030.
The Federal Council therefore wants conscripts who have not completed recruit school by the age of 25 and are discharged from the army to be subject to civil protection. This should also apply to former members of the armed forces who have completed their recruit school and become unfit for military service.
This is on the condition that they still have to complete at least 80 days of service. In addition, civil defence organizations in cantons with a shortage of civil defence personnel will now be recognized as civilian service organizations.
If all civil defence resources have been exhausted to remedy the shortage, persons subject to compulsory civilian service may be obliged to perform a maximum of 80 days of compulsory civilian service in such a civil defence organization.
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