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There are some changes at the level of laws and regulations. The most important at a glance:
Delays in public transport: now there is compensation for 60 minutes or more
Starting in the New Year, passengers will now receive compensation for long delays in public transport. This is stipulated in the modified regulation for the organization of the railway infrastructure (OBI). Anyone arriving at their travel destination more than an hour late is now entitled to compensation of 25 percent of the ticket price. If the delay is more than two hours, half the price will be returned. Subscription owners will also be compensated for delays. After 60 minutes, the daily value of your subscription will be refunded.
Paid Vacation for New Parents
60.3 percent of the Swiss electorate said yes to paternity leave on September 27. Approximately three months later, this will already be a reality. Therefore, parents are entitled to two weeks of paid leave within six months after the birth of a child. Like the maternity allowance, it is funded through the income compensation plan (EO). The compensation is 80 per cent of the average earned income, but not more than 196 francs per day. With 14 daily rates, this results in a maximum amount of CHF 2,744.
Reduction of 30 francs: radio and television rates are reduced
After the popular “No Billag” initiative two years ago, the Federal Council kept a promise and lowered radio and television rates. Instead of 365 francs a year, private households will pay 335 francs in the future. This is possible because the number of households that have to pay fees has increased faster and fewer households have been exempted from the tax than expected, the government justified its decision in April. The Federal Council wants to review the contribution again in 2022.
Now comes the filter for advertising calls
The Federal Council has updated the Telecommunications Law. Among other things, it now obliges all telecom providers to offer their customers “an adequate means against unfair advertising calls.” According to the Foundation for Consumer Protection, Swisscom already offers an advertising call filter for landline and mobile subscriptions (no prepaid) and Sunrise for all customers. Accordingly, Salt, UPC and Swisscom prepaid customers in particular will benefit from the change in the law.
Alcohol available again at highway service stations
Alcohol service will be allowed again at motorway service stations starting next year. The Federal Council decided that in May. In doing so, it implemented a mandate from Parliament. According to today’s assessment, road safety will not be affected by the lifting of the current ban, argues the Federal Council. Serving alcohol has been prohibited since 1964.
More support for family caregivers
On January 1, the federal law on support for affective family members comes into force. For employees to be able to care for family members or partners who are ill or have had an accident, there are now paid holidays of three days per case and a maximum of ten days a year. In a second step, there is the childcare leave for dependent parents in July. Working parents can then take a 14-week vacation to care for a seriously ill or accident-related child. This within 18 months.
The civil defense service is reduced to 14 years
The completely revised Population and Civil Protection Law will also enter into force on January 1, 2021. Among other things, it provides for a reduction in mandatory service. The Civil Guards now have to serve another 14 years or 245 days. So far, the compulsory protection service has lasted from 20 to 40 years. In reality, the revised law stipulates a twelve-year period of service. However, the Federal Council has the option of extending it for two years, which it has already done at the request of the cantons.
30 percent of women on the Board of Directors
Large Swiss-based listed companies will occupy more management positions with women. Therefore, the Federal Council has established new benchmarks that will now come into effect. Specifically, in the future, 30 percent of women should be women on the board of directors and 20 percent women in management. If these guideline values are not met, the company is obliged to state the reasons and explain the improvement measures. However, companies still have time to implement the regulations. This period is five years for the Board of Directors and ten years for the Executive Board. The Federal Council has higher demands on affiliated companies at the federal level. There the target quota for the representation of both sexes increases from 30 to 40 percent. This requirement must be met within a maximum period of two years.
Taxes on gasoline and diesel will be increased
Tax rates on gasoline and diesel will increase by 3.7 cents per liter starting January 1. The precedent is the promotion of environmentally friendly fuels such as natural gas, liquefied gas and biogenic fuels. Parliament has extended it until 2023. The Federal Council wants to offset the resulting fiscal deficit with higher taxes on gasoline and diesel.
Export ban on problematic pesticides
As a place of production for pesticide manufacturers, Switzerland should take its responsibility more seriously. Therefore, the Federal Council has tightened the rules for the export of dangerous phytosanitary products. The new regulation applies in particular to plant protection products that are not allowed in Switzerland due to the protection of health and the environment, but are still produced here. Five particularly problematic substances may no longer be exported as of 2021, and around a hundred other plant protection products that are dangerous to health and the environment are now subject to a licensing requirement.
Parliamentarians are better protected
The members of the Federal Assembly should be better protected starting next year. The Federal Council has reviewed and updated the relevant ordinance. In the future, if necessary, protective measures can also be taken for the private houses of members of parliament, which until now has only been the case for the private houses of federal councilors and exposed federal employees.
