Jean-Pierre Farandou will not let Switzerland drag its heels
Keystone-SDA
French Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou upping the pressure on Switzerland to reform unemployment benefits for cross-border workers.
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Farandou wants Switzerland to get a move on in implementing a new agreement with the European Union (EU).
+ Swiss warn EU jobless reform could cost millions
The agreement provides that, in future, these will be paid by the country of employment, and no longer by the country of residence.
Pointing out that France loses “€860 million a year” under the current system, Farandou pointed out to the French parliament that a timetable for implementation has already been drawn up with Luxembourg.
+ Eight graphs on free movement and the Swiss economy
The Grand Duchy, the minister explained, “willingly or unwillingly will have to comply with the application of the new rules” approved by EU countries on April 29, at the end of a decade of negotiations.
Concerning French cross-border commuters working in Switzerland, Farandou emphasised that “there are agreements that bind Switzerland to the European Union”.
According to estimates by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the change could result in additional annual costs of between CHF600 million and CHF900 million.
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But Farandou countered that Bern “benefits considerably from its good economic relations with the EU.”
“I therefore believe that the EU will put pressure on Switzerland. And we will also put pressure on Switzerland,” the minister said. “It will take some time, but we will get there, I am sure. In any case, you can count on me to see this reform through.”
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Adapted from Italian by AI/mga
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