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Health and safety at work
Employers are responsible for the physical and psychological health and the safety of their employees in the workplace. Several federal acts ensure employee health and safety.For questions concerning the protection of employees, health and safety at work, both employers and employees may contact their cantonal authority, which is often the economic affairs and employment department and is specifically responsible for planning permission for refurbishment or new construction, applications for temporary permits for work at night or on Sundays, and advice on and monitoring of businesses. Permits for regular work at night and on Sundays are issued by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). At federal level the following bodies are mainly responsible for ensuring compliance with employment protection provisions: the Working Conditions Section at SECO, the Federal Commission for the Coordination of Safety at Work (EKAS) and the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA).
Young employees under 18 years of age are well protected by the law. Young people may only be employed to work on a regular basis from the age of 15. Exceptions can be made in cases of cultural, artistic or athletic performances as well as in advertising. Furthermore, children may be employed for light work from the age of 13. (E.g. light errands or internships). Young people may not carry out any dangerous work (work with a risk of fire or explosion or with a high risk of accident, working in mines); within their professional training, some exceptions to this regulation are permissible. The regulations are stricter for young people with regard to working hours and rest periods (e.g. they are not allowed to work at night or on Sundays, although certain exceptions can be made). SECO can provide further information on the protection of young employees.
- Health protection: restriction of the number of working hours a day, ban on work at night for at least eight weeks before and a ban on work for at least eight weeks after giving birth, protection from dangerous work and materials, etc.
- Obligation to pay salary: all working mothers now receive paid maternity leave. Other solutions (cantonal provisions, staff rules, collective labour agreements) remain valid.
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