Students from third countries should be able to stay in Switzerland more easily after graduation – also because of the shortage of skilled workers.
Young people from abroad also train at Swiss colleges, universities, technical colleges and technical colleges. Some of them have to leave the country again after completing their training. Parliamentarians think this is regrettable in times of a shortage of skilled workers and want to change it. Business associations welcome this. The proposal was on the agenda of the National Council on Thursday.
The graduate of the hotel management school in Lausanne from South Africa, the computer scientist from India with a doctorate from ETH Zurich – in the future it should be easier for them to stay in Switzerland if it is in the interests of the industry and if they have the prospect of a job. In this way, the National Council would like to make a contribution against the shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland.
Academics and professionals welcome
So far, the discussion has mainly revolved around students from third countries – i.e. young people who complete their studies at a Swiss university or write their doctoral thesis here and then work here. For around a decade, only a limited number of students from third countries have been allowed to continue working in Switzerland after completing their studies.
Their number was initially estimated at around 200 young people. In 2020 there were 280, in 2022 there were around 500 applications, as the responsible State Secretariat for Migration SEM writes on request.
Legend: Foreign graduates from colleges, universities, technical colleges and other higher education should be able to stay in Switzerland more easily. KEYSTONE/Fabrice Coffrini
While the Federal Council now wants to exempt this group from the limitation, the National Council would like to go even further: foreigners who complete higher vocational training here – with a federal diploma or specialist certificate, with a HF diploma or a MAS – should also be able to stay more easily in order to to work here.
We cannot understand why students who are trained in Switzerland have to leave the country after their training.
The SEM estimates this group at around 2,500 people. The majority of these are hotel management students.
Industry associations have no concerns
In the world of work, employers and trade associations welcome the proposal. They hope to be able to keep qualified workers in Switzerland. With the project The trade association notes that “the equivalence of academic and vocational paths in the tertiary level” can be implemented.
Hotelleriesuisse writes: “We cannot understand why students who are trained in Switzerland, know our culture and are qualified, have to leave the country again after their training.” In addition to academics, Switzerland also needs well-trained young people at the technical college level.
Restricted immigration
According to the Federal Council and the competent National Council commission, the number of possible specialists is manageable. Accordingly, the easing does not conflict with the immigration regulation. Business associations share this view. They point out that the proposed easing only applies if it is in the interests of the economy and those sectors that are desperately looking for skilled workers.
The proposal now goes to the Council of States.
