Switzerland increases its quota of Work Permits

From 2019, Swiss firms would be able to recruit 8,500 foreign workers from India, China, and the US. The extra 1,000 permits will allow the firms to recruit the same number of workers they did in 2014.

In 2014, voters in Switzerland had called on the Govt. to pass an initiative to restrict migration. In response, the number of work permits was slashed to 6,500 for “third-world” countries. Swiss firms are now required to provide evidence that they could not find a Swiss candidate to fulfill the position. Only then can they extend an offer of employment to a foreign worker.

Zurich, Basel, and Geneva are three cantons in Switzerland that have had a large foreign workforce. Last year, they joined hands to urge the Swiss Govt. to raise the quota of work permits back to the levels of 2014. Leaders of the cantons argued that the restrictions tarnished Switzerland’s reputation as an international center for business and research.

According to Swissinfo, Switzerland will issue 4,500 residence permits next year. 4,000 5-year long B permits will be issued as well. However, the number of shorter-stay L permits would be reduced by 500. L permits have a validity of 3 to 12 months.

1,000 B permits would be kept in reserve by the Swiss Govt. to be handed out to the cantons on demand.

Y-Axis offers a wide range of visa and immigration services as well as products to overseas immigrants including Business Visa for Switzerland, Study Visa for Switzerland, Visit Visa for Switzerland, and Work Visa for Switzerland. If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Switzerland, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Consultant.

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