On June 13, 2021, Switzerland will vote on the Covid-19 Act because a referendum has been held against it. In the event of a “no” vote, all measures regulated in the law will cease to apply on September 25, 2021 – in particular economic aid. The Economic Committee “YES to the Covid-19 Act” recommends that the Covid-19 Act be adopted.
The Covid-19 Act provides financial aid for companies and employees. The hardship regulation, the extension of short-time work compensation and income compensation as well as aid programs for the media, sport and culture are regulated in the Covid Act.
The federal government is making around CHF 35 billion available to companies, associations and people as part of the Covid-19 Act. If the Covid-19 Act is rejected, most of the aid measures will expire. “The Covid-19 pandemic would have an unchecked impact on the Swiss economy and cause lasting damage,” says Daniela Schneeberger, Vice President of the Swiss Trade Association.
“The referendum leaders are embarking on a dangerous experiment with an uncertain outcome,” says Andreas Züllig, President of HotellerieSuisse. After the Federal Council acted by emergency law at the beginning of the crisis, the Covid-19 Act now restricts the powers of the Federal Council. For example, it enshrines the right of the social partners and cantons to have a say. “With the Covid-19 Act, the government has returned to the ordinary legislative process. Parliament invested countless working hours in its further development. The current version had broad political support in the final vote,” recalls National Councillor Nicolo Paganini.
A No to the Covid-19 Act would mean that Parliament would lose the opportunity to respond quickly and flexibly to developments.
For these reasons, various organizations have joined forces to form the “YES to the Covid-19 Act” committee – including IG Fitness Schweiz, which supports this project.
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