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- If the National Council has its way, those who reject the mask should be able to be fined again, up to 300 francs.
- The great chamber today discussed various adjustments to the Covid-19 law that the Federal Council decided in November.
- Unlike the Federal Council, the National Council wants financial hardship funds for more companies.
- It also accepts the extension of the right to part-time compensation and contributions to sports clubs.
The National Council agrees that those who refuse to wear masks can be fined again as in spring. However, you want to be able to waive a fine where it is not clearly evident that wearing a mask is mandatory. This is the case, for example, in pedestrian areas. The Grand Chamber tacitly accepted this additional regulation.
Thomas Aeschi (SVP / ZG), who did not observe any problem in discipline, did not comply with his request to waive the fines entirely by 121 to 65 votes and four abstentions. “Look at it in a general context,” said Finance Minister Ueli Maurer. “As in no other European country, Switzerland gives the population personal responsibility. A possible sanction is needed when this is not taken into account. “
Support for more businesses
The National Council wants to consider more companies in the rush measures in the fight against the consequences of the corona pandemic. To do this, it has lowered the turnover threshold set by the Federal Council: it should be possible to take into account those companies that achieved an average turnover of at least 50,000 francs in 2018 and 2019. Only then would too many small companies not be excluded from the measures the council has said on several occasions.
It was also discussed how high the decline in sales must be for there to be a hardship case. The Federal Council anticipates a 40 percent decrease compared to the multi-year average. The Greens and the SP wanted help provided if there was a 30 percent loss. For the most affected industries, for example in tourism and event organizers, the obstacles would have to disappear, otherwise the template would be “bureaucracy without effect”, said Regula Rytz (Greens / BE). The council rejected this by 126 votes to 66.
Short-term work: the National Council follows the Federal Council
In law, the Federal Council provides income compensation for people who have to significantly interrupt or limit their work due to the crown measures. But only if the profit loss equals 55 percent of average sales. A minority wanted to eliminate this condition. This is a disaster for many freelancers, said Prisca Birrer-Heimo (SP / LU). Survival with 45 percent is not possible. However, the council followed the Federal Council with 124 votes to 64.
In mid-November, the Federal Council expanded the requirements to receive compensation for short-term work: people on fixed-term contracts and apprentices must be compensated again. This is particularly important for the upcoming winter season with the corresponding job profiles. Requests to limit short-time work assignment for temporary employees to apprentices only (Burgherr / SVP) or to extend benefits (Jans / SP, Andrey / Grüne) did not find a majority.
In the general vote, the National Council accepted the agreement by 179 votes to 12 and 2 abstentions. The Council of States will discuss the changes on Wednesday.
