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Bundesklar – Journal (EN)

1. Oct 21, 2026, 7:42 PM

   Short-time work: Federal Council plans gradual return to normality

   The current maximum duration of compensation is 24 instead of 12 months, and the waiting period is one instead of a maximum of three days. In view of the positive economic development forecast by the Federal Expert Group on 17 September 2026, the Federal Council sees room for a gradual normalisation. It will continue to closely monitor the economic development and remain in dialogue with the social partners and the economy. Short-time work will continue to be available to all companies affected by unavoidable loss of working hours.

2. Oct 20, 2026, 8:51 PM

   Circular No. 221 “Withholding tax rates 2027 (as at 1.1.2027)”

   Circular No. 221 (as at 1.1.2027) explains the withholding tax rates and deductions adjusted for fiscal drag. The deduction from the tax amount per child is now CHF 264.00, and the median actual employment income is now CHF 5'925 per month.

3. Oct 20, 2026, 8:49 PM

   Codification of the Schubert practice

   The Political Institutions Committee of the Council of States (PIC-S) proposes codifying the Federal Supreme Court’s Schubert practice to clarify the relationship between federal acts and the internal market agreements between Switzerland and the EU. Federal acts are to be binding on the Federal Supreme Court and the other authorities applying the law when the legislature deliberately departs from an internal market agreement with the EU. The PIC-S is submitting two variants for consultation: the first would enshrine the Federal Supreme Court’s Schubert practice at constitutional level, the second at statutory level.

4. Oct 20, 2026, 1:28 PM

   Switzerland and the UN strengthen coordination of peace efforts in Sudan at Geneva meeting

   Switzerland and the UN are organising an international meeting in Geneva on 21 October 2026 on peace efforts in Sudan. This sixth consultative meeting will bring together states and international organisations working towards a resolution of the conflict in Sudan. As the humanitarian crisis worsens further, the meeting aims to improve coordination of diplomatic initiatives, work towards de-escalation and promote an inclusive political process.

5. Oct 20, 2026, 8:28 AM

   Swiss Government Cloud: tender launched

   The Federal Office of Informatics and Telecommunications (FOITT) published the call for tenders for the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) on the SIMAP public procurement platform on 20 October 2026. The current cloud infrastructure of the federal administration is reaching its limits and no longer meets the requirements of digitalisation. The new cloud infrastructure is to provide a foundation for the digital transformation of the administration and combine innovative cloud services with high security standards.

6. Oct 20, 2026, 8:05 AM

   Third quarter of 2026: foreign trade increases

   Following the recovery in the previous quarter, Swiss foreign trade also grew in both directions in the third quarter of 2026. Seasonally adjusted exports rose by 2.6 per cent compared with the previous quarter (in real terms: +3.3 per cent) to 75.0 billion Swiss francs. Imports increased by 1.8 per cent (in real terms: –1.4 per cent) and reached a new all-time high of 61.0 billion Swiss francs. The trade surplus widened slightly to 14.0 billion Swiss francs.

7. Oct 19, 2026, 4:01 PM

   New biometric identity card to be introduced on 2 November 2026

   From 2 November 2026, Swiss citizens who wish to do so may apply for the new biometric identity card. It will be available at the cantonal authorities responsible for issuing identity cards and passports, as well as at Swiss representations abroad.

8. Oct 19, 2026, 2:37 PM

   National Council Finance Committee begins consideration of requested supplementary credits

   The National Council Finance Committee (FC-N) has begun considering the supplementary credits requested by the Federal Council, totalling more than one billion francs, as part of a general discussion. The discussion focused on funding for advance payments for air defence procurement.

9. Oct 19, 2026, 2:20 PM

   Federal Councillors Cassis and Baume-Schneider receive Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula

   Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula for a working meeting in Bern on 19 October 2026. The talks focused on bilateral relations, Swiss support for Colombia following the earthquake in August 2026, and the peace and security situation in Colombia and the region. Beforehand, Foreign Minister Bula met Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to sign a social security agreement between the two countries and discuss bilateral cultural cooperation.

10. Oct 19, 2026, 7:57 AM

    Finance Committee supports the commitment credits for the Bilateral Agreements III

    The committee prepared a co-report on the commitment credits requested by the Federal Council as part of the Bilateral Agreements III (26.023 s), totalling around 3.48 billion francs for the years 2030 to 2036. A clear majority proposes following the Federal Council and the Council of States.