Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.
View all Q4 2023 Global Guide Quarterly updates Download full Q4 2023 Global Guide Quarterly
Planned Revision of the Federal Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities
Proposed Bill or Initiative
Authors: Ueli Sommer, Partner, and Regula Rhiner, Senior Associate – Littler | LEL
The Federal Council has initiated the procedure to partially revise the Federal Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities to significantly expand the rights of disabled people in private employment relationships.
The proposed revised Act would expressly prohibit direct or indirect discrimination against disabled people in all phases of employment, including the application process. It would obligate employers to take reasonable precautionary measures to prevent, reduce or eliminate disadvantages of disabled people, assessing whether, and which, measures need to be taken. The interests of the disabled person and those of the employer (such as size of the enterprise/company and financial resources) would have to be weighed in each individual case. Affected employees would be entitled to demand precautionary measures and seek compensation in court for discrimination in hiring or termination.