Federal government takes over wage differences for civil protection deployment related to COVID-19

Melanie Imper Manager, Employment Solutions, PwC Switzerland 23 Jun 2020

During its meeting on 12 June 2020, the Federal Council decided to partially pay the difference between earned income and compensation for loss of earnings for some civil protection members deployed as a result of COVID-19. This same regulation already applies to members of the army.

On 20 March 2020, the Federal Council deployed the civil protection service across the whole of Switzerland due to the epidemic. From then on, more than 5,000 members of the civil protection service were deployed on average every week up until the end of May.

Up to 200 CHF per day of deployment

Remuneration for military and civil protection service covers usually 80 % of earned income and is financed by income compensation allowance (EO). If the employer doesn’t pay the 20 % difference voluntarily or if the person concerned is self-employed, this drop in income has to be accepted. The Federal Council had already decided to pay this shortfall for members of the army. Now, it will do the same for members of the civil protection service, paying up to a maximum compensation of 200 CHF per day of deployment.

Days of deployment concerned

This applies to all days of deployment, which have been completed between 21 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 as a result of deployment by the Federal Council, and additionally exceed the 19 days of civil protection service. Excluded are days of deployment that are completed on a voluntary basis. The Federal Council has adapted the «Ordinance on the compensation of armed forces personnel deployed for assistance services to overcome the coronavirus pandemic» (German) accordingly. Based upon the regulation for the armed forces, this comes into effect as of the 20th day of deployment. Those eligible for compensation must send a written request to the cantonal authorities responsible for civil protection by 6 September 2020.

Welcome relief

Paying this difference means an additional maximum financial expenditure of 6 million CHF. These funds are covered by the loan already allocated for civil protection deployment.

This decision by the Federal Council relieves members of the civil protection service. It means they no longer have to finance the gap between their earned income and compensation for lost earnings themselves.