The working conditions of nurses must be regulated in an ad hoc law. The Federal Council opened a consultation in this regard on Wednesday. The training offensive, uncontested in Parliament, will come into force on July 1
The need for nursing staff will increase in the coming years, by 14% in hospitals and 26% in EMS, Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told the media. Already today, several tens of thousands of positions are vacant, particularly in the field of care.
In order to maintain professionals in the health sector as well as the quality of care, working conditions must be improved. This also allows them to practice their profession longer. Abandonments are one of the causes of the lack of healthcare personnel, recalls the Federal Council.
Work plans
The new law on working conditions in the field of nursing provides for improvements and unifications on central points. For healthcare workers, short-term and unplanned assignments are stressful and are often cited as a reason for leaving the profession.
Service plans must therefore be announced at least four weeks in advance. Last minute changes are still possible. But they must be compensated by leave or financially by an increase of at least 25% of the salary. The later the changes are announced, the higher the compensation will be. This also applies to night work, the minister said.
The maximum working time will drop from 50 to 45 hours per week. Ordinary working hours will be 38 to 42 hours per week. Currently it is not fixed. This helps protect the health of nurses.
Collective agreement
The new law can only resolve certain points. Employers, social partners and cantons must also make efforts to ensure good working and salary conditions.
This is why they will be required to hold discussions to improve working conditions and to negotiate a collective labor agreement (CCT). The Federal Council plans two variants. The first should make it possible to deviate from the requirements of the new law in a CCT. The second variant provides that the conditions set by law cannot be deteriorated, only measures in favor of workers can be taken.
If no CCT is negotiated or if the negotiations are unsuccessful, the working conditions set by federal law automatically apply.
Professional development opportunities must also be improved in order to make the profession attractive. The master’s degree and the professional profile of advanced practice nurses will be regulated at the federal level. These highly qualified personnel can relieve the burden on the care teams.
Training offensive
The initiative for strong nursing care, accepted by the people in November 2021, also called for a training offensive and more autonomy for nurses. This first section comes into force on July 1.
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The Confederation and the cantons will have to support nursing training for eight years to the tune of nearly a billion francs, recalled Elisabeth Baume Schneider. These funds are intended for students undergoing training, for health institutions for their work related to the practical training of qualified healthcare personnel, and for higher education establishments and specialized universities so that they can increase their training capacities.
In addition, healthcare personnel will be authorized to directly invoice certain services covered by compulsory healthcare insurance, such as advice or basic care services.
If the volume of services and health insurance premiums increase due to direct billing, the tariff partners will be able to negotiate a control mechanism in order to prevent an unjustified increase in health costs, specifies the Federal Council.
ats/miro
