On Monday, a petition bearing 110,000 signatures was submitted to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern. The demand is clear: to extend maternity leave in Switzerland from the current 14 weeks to six months.
For anyone arriving from Spain or any other European country, it is worth knowing where to start. Currently, maternity leave in Switzerland covers 98 days at 80 per cent of salary, capped at 220 francs per day, through the Loss of Earnings Allowance (APG). This amounts to just under 14 weeks. By way of comparison: Spain offers 16 weeks. The European average is significantly higher. When it comes to maternity leave, Switzerland is not exactly leading the way.
A petition has no direct legal effect under the Swiss system: the Federal Parliament is under no obligation to act. However, 110,000 signatures send a political signal that is hard to ignore, and pressure on this issue has been building for years. If the organisers take it a step further and opt for a federal popular initiative — a different process requiring 100,000 valid signatures collected within 18 months — the issue could go directly to a public vote. In Switzerland, such mechanisms exist and are used.
For Spaniards living in Switzerland who have children or are planning to have them, this issue is worth keeping an eye on. If this debate goes to a referendum, the outcome will affect them directly.