The Swiss government has allocated up to 3,500 work permits to let employers recruit staff from the UK, which will no longer be covered by Swiss free-movement rules with the EU post-Brexit.
Under the system 3,500 British citizens coming to Switzerland for the first time will be allowed to work in the country.
“This ensures the required flexibility for Swiss business,” the Bern government said in a statement.
“This is intended to mitigate the consequences for the economy… of an abrupt change in the status of British citizens from persons benefiting from freedom of movement to third country nationals,” it added.
“It will also prevent undesirable competition for jobs between British citizens and other third country nationals.”
The UK permit contingent will initially apply for one year and will be released to Swiss administrations every three months.
It comes as the current bilateral Swiss–EU Agreement on the free movement of persons (AFMP) will cease to apply to British nationals when the UK formally leaves the bloc on 31 December.
Time is running thin for Britain to secure a trade deal with the EU ahead of the transition period deadline.
Trade negotiations have restarted this week over Zoom, after a member of the EU’s negotiating team tested positive for Covid last Thursday.
Any deal between Britain and EU would need to be ratified by parliaments on both sides, meaning the next few days are crucial for any hopes to secure an agreement between the two parties.
European Commission chief Ursula von Der Leyen this morning said that the EU cannot guarantee a trade deal with Britain, and is now preparing for a no-deal Brexit.
“The next days are going to be decisive. The European Union is well prepared for a no-deal scenario,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament.
SOURCE: City A.M.
