In a press release from April 2020, Unia called for a hardship fund for atypical workers and platform workers. The Federal Council has not yet commented on atypical forms of employment such as platform work. In the taxi industry, thousands of workers are employed by platforms, some of which refuse to fulfill their employer obligations (e.g., Uber, Taxi444, Upwork). When orders dry up, these platforms do not pay wages, and the workers are not insured against loss of earnings. The affected workers must also be granted access to support benefits, as they cannot benefit from measures such as short-time work due to their employers’ deliberate failure to act. The authorities must immediately compel such employers who are acting illegally to fulfill their obligations. The current situation clearly shows what devastating consequences further “Uberization” of the workforce would have.
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Everyone’s talking about it these days: social security for all. There’s hardly a Swiss TV program that doesn’t highlight the issue, but not all stakeholders and panelists seem equally interested in finding a constructive solution. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve all become acutely aware of just how full of holes the Swiss social safety net is. It’s hard to imagine what impact this could have on Switzerland as a business hub, with its innovative SMEs, freelancers, digital day laborers, startups, and so on. The current crisis has made us painfully aware of this reality—a poison for small businesses, freelancing, and the like, which are vital pillars of the Swiss economy. To ensure these engines of innovation aren’t stifled in the future, we need solutions like those offered by payroll+, which combine the social security of an employee with the freedoms of the self-employed. “Social security like an employee, without having to give up the freedoms of the self-employed.”
Through payroll+, platform workers also receive the protections of an employee as demanded by Unia.
Payroll+ users are generally easier for the government to track than self-employed individuals. All social security deductions are automatically processed by payroll+, work and residence permits are consistently checked and renewed, withholding taxes are automatically calculated correctly, the user is automatically insured against risks such as illness or accidents, and the system automatically provides for the user’s pension in accordance with the law (PK).
payroll+ fully complies with the employer obligations called for by Unia. Social security and worker protection are crucial for social harmony and for maintaining purchasing power. We at payroll+ believe that employment in Switzerland must be protected.
In summary, it should be noted that contractors, freelancers, gig workers, etc., who use payroll+ have better social protection against financial risks.
Edgar Weber, visionary and CEO of payroll+ AG, recognized this years ago and developed innovative employment models and a payroll tool to ensure that “social security for all” does not remain a pipe dream (empty words, political platitudes) once the COVID-19 regulations expire. This success proves Edgar Weber and his InsurTech company right.
Edgar Weber has also received support and recognition from prominent and knowledgeable sources. For example, the renowned social insurance expert Prof. Dr. iur. Ueli Kieser confirms the legal validity of the business model in his legal opinion, and Andreas Dummermuth, president of the Conference of Cantonal Compensation Funds and managing director of the Schwyz Compensation Fund, also has nothing but praise:
“‘FLEXICURITY’—this term reflects one of Switzerland’s keys to success: labor market flexibility (flexibility) combined with broad protection for all workers through social security (security). payroll+ consistently offers new food for thought in this area.”
This is a great honor, considering how complex and multifaceted the issues surrounding “Social Security for All” are; after all, this requires a solid understanding of labor law and knowledge of the world of work as well as the evolving labor market.
At payroll+, we are genuinely interested in constructive and innovative solutions, which is why we are constantly refining our payroll and employment models—so that “social security for all” no longer remains just an empty phrase.
Edgar Weber, CEO of payroll+
