Integration into the primary labor market: Confederation and employers' association agree on sector-specific measures

The federal government supports the umbrella organization in developing industry-specific measures for its members and providing more information about IV integration benefits. The Compasso association has been commissioned to carry out this work.

The professional integration of people with health problems is an important concern for employers, particularly in light of the increasing labor shortage. For this reason, the integration or reintegration and retention in the primary labor market should be increasingly promoted. With this aim in mind, the Swiss Employers' Association (SAV) and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), represented by the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO), signed a cooperation agreement at the end of 2022 for a period of four years.

Partnership framework agreement

The agreement is based on the amendment to the Federal Disability Insurance Act (IVG), which came into force in 2022 with the further development of the IV. The cooperation agreement regulates the framework for the implementation of specific measures at national or linguistic-regional level. It provides for the development and implementation of practical and sector-specific measures that are of interest to both the IV and the SAV. In this way, members of the umbrella organization are provided with suitable instruments to improve the framework conditions for occupational integration. The SAV has commissioned the Compasso association, of which the SAV is a patron, to implement the measures.

Sector-specific measures start in May

At the heart of the measures that will be implemented from 1 May is the sector-specific adaptation of the resource-oriented integration profile (REP). This is a modular online tool that will be technologically revised and made available to employers. The REP is intended to facilitate a gradual return to work after a long-term absence due to illness or accident, taking into account the available resources. The tool is adapted to the specific requirement profiles of the professions in the participating sectors and made available as a mobile and web application. This will provide employees, employers and doctors with a helpful tool to help them keep their job or return to work as specifically and efficiently as possible. In addition, IV integration services such as early assessment, job coaching or workplace adjustments are made more widely known in the sectors. The implementation of the measures is monitored and continuously reviewed by the FSIO and the SAV.

Industry associations are involved

Various sectors have agreed to develop and implement these measures together with Compasso. These are the employers' association for building services Allpura, the association of the Swiss electrical industry EIT.swiss, the employers' and professional association for building services engineering suissetec and the association for the hotel and restaurant industry GastroSuisse.

The Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) ensures that the social insurance network is maintained and adapted to the challenges in its area of responsibility. It is also responsible at federal level for the areas of family, children, youth and old age, intergenerational relations and general social policy issues.

The Swiss Employers' Association (SAV) has been the voice of employers in business, politics and the public sphere since 1908. As the umbrella organization of the Swiss economy, it unites around 90 regional and sector-specific employer organizations as well as a number of individual companies. In total, it represents over 100,000 small, medium-sized and large companies with around 2 million employees from all sectors of the economy. The SAV is committed to a strong economy and prosperity in Switzerland. It has recognized expertise, particularly in the areas of the labour market, education and social policy. The association is led by Director Roland A. Müller and chaired by Severin Moser.

Compasso is the national information portal and neutral network for employers on issues relating to occupational integration and job retention. The association is under the patronage of the Swiss Employers' Association and is broadly supported. Compasso networks employers with the relevant system partners in order to jointly develop suitable instruments. Members such as large companies, industry and other associations, social and private insurers are involved in a spirit of solidarity. As a result, interested companies - especially SMEs - receive practical information and tools free of charge to support them in maintaining the employability of employees with disabilities and in their professional (re-)integration.

Source: Federal Social Insurance Office