Swiss Government Enforces Sunday Work Restrictions

The Swiss government has established a firm rule that prohibits work on Sundays across the country, applicable to all workers without automatic exemptions based on their roles. Employers wishing to have staff work on Sundays must first obtain special authorization and secure the agreement of the employees involved.

This legal framework distinguishes between two categories of Sunday work: temporary and regular. Temporary Sunday work is defined as arrangements lasting no longer than six months, with public holidays included in the total count of working days.

Any work arrangement exceeding this six-month limit is classified as regular Sunday work, which entails a different set of requirements. The Swiss government maintains that Sunday rest is the default, and any exceptions necessitate deliberate actions from both the employer and the employee prior to implementation.