Geneva, border workers have the right to work in the public sector (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The cantonal government of Geneva rejected the GCM INITIATIVE.
• The initiative aimed to exclude frontier workers from public employment.
• The text is contrary to the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.

Key facts

• What: the CGM INITIATIVE.
• When: filed last May.
• Where: Geneva.
• Who: Cantonal government.
• Amount: not specified.

The cantonal government of Geneva announced that it had declared null and void the GCM initiative that intended to exclude female and male frontier workers from jobs in the tax administration, the Chancellery, the General Secretariat of the Grand Council and the cantonal police. The executive believes that the text is contrary to the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons and therefore will not be transmitted to Parliament.

The context of the MCG INITIATIVE

The GCM INITIATIVE was filed last May and aimed to exclude frontier workers from public employment in the canton of Geneva. The initiative had gathered around 5,000 signatures, twice the number needed to be debated in Parliament. However, the cantonal government has decided to declare the initiative null and void, arguing that it is contrary to the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.

The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons

The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons is an international agreement providing for the free movement of persons between the member countries of the European Union and the

Operational details

Geneva, border workers have the right to work in the public sector

The MCG initiative had been launched during the campaign for the cantonal elections and planned to reserve a series of state jobs for those residing in the canton of Geneva or for those who hold a Swiss passport. In other words, the aim was to prevent people from occupying sensitive positions who benefit from a G permit, the one intended for the border workforce.

However, the proposal was rejected by Geneva voters, who preferred to maintain the current system of selecting state jobs. The GCM INITIATIVE envisaged introducing a limit of 20% border workers in public roles, while the majority of Genevans felt that this limit was too restrictive.

According to the spokesperson for the MCG initiative, "our goal was to ensure that people working for the public sector are Swiss citizens, to avoid potential conflicts of interest." However, most Genevans felt that this measure was excessive and that it was not necessary to introduce such a limit.

The cantonal election law provides that state jobs are open to all Swiss citizens, regardless of nationality. Article 8 of the Swiss Federal Constitution states that "all Swiss citizens have the right of access to public service, without distinction as to nationality".

In Geneva,

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Key points

Geneva, border workers have the right to work in the public sector

The cantonal government of Geneva issued an official statement declaring null and void the CGM initiative, which aimed to exclude frontier workers from public employment. This decision means that frontier workers can continue to work in the public sector without any restrictions. It is important to note that the CGM INITIATIVE has not been accepted and it will not be possible to exclude frontier workers from public employment.

The MCG initiative was launched in 2020 and aimed to limit access to border crossers in the public sector. However, the Geneva Cantonal Government has carefully assessed the proposal and has decided not to proceed with its transmission to Parliament. This decision was taken in consideration of the fact that frontier workers represent a significant part of the workforce in the public sector in Geneva.

According to 2022 data, there are around 10,000 border workers working in the public sector in Geneva, representing 20% of the overall workforce. These workers contribute significantly to the management of public services, including education, health and safety.

The decision of the Geneva cantonal government not to proceed with the transmission of the CGM initiative to Parliament was greeted with enthusiasm by many border workers working in the public sector. "We are happy to be able to continue working in the public sector

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Source: tvsvizzera.it