Here is a rough translation from the CH French business website L'AGEFI concerning changes that the Federal Council announced today. Link is also below.
Fewer obstacles to recruiting skilled workers from third countries
Swiss companies will soon be able to hire workers from abroad more easily. Faced with severe shortages, the Federal Council lifted a series of administrative barriers to immigration from third countries.
EPFL Professions that suffer from a proven severe shortage of skilled workers will no longer have to check on a case-by-case basis whether indigenous potential has been fully exploited. This measure will come into force by the end of the year.
Qualified workers from third countries can more easily be hired by Swiss companies. The Federal Council adopted, on Friday, a package of measures to remove a series of administrative obstacles. The objective: to respond to severe shortages of skilled labour.
The admission conditions for foreign nationals from outside the European Union (EU) have been reviewed. Professions that suffer from a great need for workers will no longer have to check, on a case-by-case basis, whether the indigenous potential has been fully exploited.
Another point: people who carry out qualified activities, but who do not benefit from academic training, will be able to obtain a residence permit more easily. At present, this possibility is only in place for people with special professional knowledge. It should be noted that a shortage of labour must indeed be proven in the sector of activity concerned.
The Federal Council also simplifies the transition from salaried activity to self-employment for holders of a residence permit.
These three measures will come into force by the end of the year, as part of a revision of the Federal Law on Foreigners and Integration.
Quotas to review
The Federal Department of Justice (FDJP), the Federal Department of the Economy, in collaboration with the cantons and the social partners, will examine the possible improvements to be made to the system of quotas for skilled labour from third countries. A report should be submitted by the end of March 2023.
In its report, the Federal Council analyses the improvements to the admission system for workers from third countries. A survey by the State Secretariat for Migration among economic circles, cantons and social partners shows that the system is not called into question.