The federation of Swiss free evangelical churches in German-speaking Switzerland (Freikirchen.ch) publicly oppose exceptions to the ban on Sunday work.

According to the organisation's leaders, the measure “does not meet a pressing social need”.

“Sunday is associated with core values that are of particular importance both socially and religiously", recently pointed out Peter Schneeberger, president of the federation in a press release.

“Sunday offers society a common day to take a deep breath and relax, structuring the week between working days and leisure days, where community, family and social life, and, last but not least, for many people in Switzerland, attending a church service together, is organised”, he added.

The federation recalled that over 15 % of the working population already regularly work on Sundays, and the figures will continue to rise according to data from 2023. “This amendment sends the wrong message and ignores the need to protect employees”, they said.

Reconciliation of work and family life

Despite that opposition, the Swiss free evangelicals “welcome the Commission's concern to promote the reconciliation of work and family life. We support the possibility for working parents to organise their time more flexibly, so that they can devote more time to their family”.

However, they are “concerned about the growing number of employees who are affected by exhaustion or burnout, as studies indicate that the increasing mix of work and private life is one of the main factors behind that”.

More freedom to organise working from home

The National Council's Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK-N) presented the initiative More freedom to organise working from home, which provides for an extension of the maximum daily working time from 14 to 17 hours and a reduction in the minimum rest period from 11 to 9 hours, subject to a corresponding agreement.

In addition, occasional work on Sundays is to be permitted on the employee's own initiative.