SVP and business community fight back: SP federal councilor Baume-Schneider wants to lower the maximum limit for foreigners

Today, up to 12,000 specialists from so-called third countries can come to Switzerland every year. 3,500 of the residence permits are reserved for employees from the former EU member state Great Britain. By 2024, Baume-Schneider wants to reduce the maximum to 9,600 people – and abolish the special quota for British people.

Plans are met with criticism

The employers’ organization (SAV) is worried. Today the quotas are far from exhausted. In 2022, three times as many specialists from Great Britain could have come to Switzerland as actually came.

But Daniella Lützelschwab, head of labor market and law at SAV, warns: “Such a sharp reduction in quotas limits companies’ ability to plan.” In the summer, the employers’ association and other associations called on the federal government to keep the quotas the same or even increase them, given the shortage of skilled workers. The fact that Baume-Schneider now wants to do the opposite disappoints employers.

FDP-Silberschmidt speaks of a big mistake

FDP State Councilor Andri Silberschmidt (29) describes the plans of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) as a “big mistake”. It makes no sense to focus on the foreigners who generate the most added value and pay the most taxes. These highly trained specialists from third countries cannot simply be replaced by refugees. “That’s absurd.”

Baume-Schneider’s plan even met with criticism from the SVP, which wants fewer foreigners in the country. “The reduction of the quota for third countries by 2,400 people is just a drop in the ocean,” says SVP faction leader Thomas Aeschi (44). “Every year, more than 80,000 immigrants come from the EU and tens of thousands of asylum migrants.” Baume-Schneider must “finally, as decided by the people, limit EU immigration and take action in the asylum system.”

Minister of Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin (64), a party member of Aeschi, is reportedly against Baume-Schneider’s plans. The Federal Council is expected to make a decision next week. Given the resistance in the civilian camp, it is anything but certain that the Minister of Migration will realize her plans. It is also possible that she will ultimately propose less drastic cuts to her cabinet colleagues than originally planned.