The Swiss authorities have decided to let a large number of foreign workers enter the country for work purposes in 2025, too, by keeping the quota the same as this year.
As announced by Switzerland’s Federal Council, in 2025, the country will allow the recruitment of up to 8,500 qualified skilled workers from third countries, Schengen.News reports.
Even though it is yet to be seen if the entire quota will be used, 4,500 foreign workers will be granted a B residence permit, while the remaining part will be issued an L short-term residence permit.
By keeping the quota for foreign workers unchanged, Switzerland wants to ensure that the country’s economy does not deal with shortages.
The Council said that the Swiss companies should continue to be able to recruit skilled workers if they need them. The same stressed that the authorities support immigration of workers from foreign countries but stressed that it should be limited.
Special Quotas for Workers From UK Will Be Continued
In addition to the above-mentioned, the Swiss authorities have also decided to continue the separate quotas for the UK.
Since the UK is no longer part of the European Union, its passport holders are now considered third-country nationals, making it more difficult and complicated for them to work in the EU member states. However, separate quotas will continue to be applied to them as a transitional solution.
In 2025, up to 3,5000 workers from the UK will be able to be recruited in Switzerland. Around 2,100 of them will be granted B residence permits, and 1,4000 will be granted L short-stay permits.
However, the Council stressed that they intend to integrate the separate UK quota into the regular quota in the medium term.
Foreign Workers Quota Have Not Been Fully Used Up in 2023 & 2024
Data show that in 2023 and so far this year, the foreign worker quotas have not been fully used up. Last year, only 78 per cent of the quotas were used up, whereas so far this year, only around 63 per cent of the quotas have been used.
This could be due to the failure of foreign workers to meet the conditions required to enter Switzerland for work purposes and the priority-based issuance of permits.
Admission of foreign workers is based on the needs of the economy in Switzerland, and domestic workers, as well as those from the EU/EFTA, have priority.
Source: https://schengen.news/switzerland-sets-quota-for-foreign-skilled-workers-to-8500-for-2025/
