The vote on immigrant numbers has been hogging the headlines, but there is another issue at stake in Switzerland’s June 14th referendum.
Unless you have been living in a far-away land or on another planet, you know that a highly contentious issue – one of the most controversial in recent history – will be voted on in the upcoming national referendum.
This is the bid by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to drastically cut the number of immigrants from the European Union allowed to be employed in Switzerland – the so-called ‘No to 10 million’ initiative.
It has been gaining momentum in the past weeks, as more and more opponents of this radical measure are urging voters to reject it; all the while, the SVP is stepping up its campaign for a ‘yes’ vote.
READ MORE: Who is leading the fight in Switzerland against the anti-immigration proposal?
But there is also another issue on the ballot that has not been much talked about.
A new amendment
The other issue that voters will have their say on is a proposed amendment to the Civilian Service Act.
If you are not familiar with this term, Switzerland has two service options as alternatives to the compulsory military service. One is the Civil Protection (also called Civil Defence), and the other is Civilian Service.
The first one is intended for men who are unfit for army service due to health or other issues.
In the Civil Protection, they are charged with tasks such as maintaining public order and providing aid in the event of disasters.
As an example, they were deployed during the Covid pandemic to help the military set up tents outside the hospitals, vet visitors, and even take their temperature to ensure they were not infected.
During other disasters, they help evacuate affected population and set up protective barriers, among other tasks.
The Civilian Service, on the other hand, is an option for conscientious objectors – individuals who refuse military service on the religious, ethical, or moral grounds.
The Civilian Service is of a more ‘social’ nature than Civil Protection, involving tasks such as helping out in elderly care homes, in facilities for people with disabilities, and the like.
The service should last 365 to 390 days, which are often completed over several years with a mandatory minimum of 26 days per. The duration for the Civil Protection is shorter – 245 days of service.
Data from 2025 shows that 7,211 people chose Civilian Service, this compares to roughly 60,000 for Civil Protection. The military counts 147,000 soldiers.
What is the November 14th vote about?
Basically, the government wants to tighten the requirements for the Civilian Service, with the aim of making this option less attractive.
The Federal Council and the Parliament would like to “ensure that civilian service remains an exception” and the proposed amendment “aims to reduce the number of people opting for civilian service”.
The actual change, however, is quite minor and affects only soldiers who transfer to Civilian Service after completing a significant portion of their military service.
Under the new rules – provided this measure is approved in the referendum – soldiers opting to transfer to Civilian Service must complete at least 150 days of service.
At present there is no specific minimum, it could be as little as a few weeks, depending on how much of their military service is left.
