Since 2006, reducing administrative burdens has been a central and recurring concern of the Confederation. The Federal Council has issued four packages with a total of 217 measures to ease the burden on businesses.
Between 2006 and 2019, the Federal Council issued seven reports on reducing administrative burdens for SMEs and large companies in Switzerland. It proposed four packages of measures, representing a total of 217 measures (see Die Volkswirtschaft article on this subject).
The latest government review on administrative relief is from a November 2019 report showing that three-quarters of the planned measures have been implemented, while 14% are in progress and 11% will not be met.
The sectors affected by the reduction of administrative burdens were as follows:
- value added tax (VAT)
- direct corporate taxes
- building and planning law
- accounting and auditing
- food hygiene
- vocational training
- occupational safety and health protection
- working hours permits and working hours documentation,
- customs formalities
- environmental law
- 1st pillar (1st pillar: OASI/DI/APG), 2nd pillar (OP) and family allowances
- public procurement
- admission of foreign workers
- statistics
- creation of companies
- regulation of banks and financial intermediaries
- debt collection and bankruptcy
- store opening hours
- labelling requirements.
Moreover, in 2021 the Federal Council introduced a new law on the reduction of regulatory costs for companies (see 28.04.2021 UEG press release). Its purpose is to study, in a systematic way, the potential for relief offered by current regulations and new draft laws. It also seeks to further develop the digitalization of administrative procedures through the EasyGov.swiss online portal for companies.
A priority focus: e-governance
EasyGov.swiss is the online e-governance desk for companies. The user-friendly EasyGov.swiss enables SMEs and company founders to carry out their administrative obligations anytime and to focus on their core business. EasyGov offers access to online services provided by the authorities, such as: EasyGov - offered services. By the end of 2023, the administrative procedures most in demand will appear on EasyGov.swiss and may be completed by companies electronically.