Swiss lawmakers scale back nursing reform

The Swiss House of Representatives has scaled back measures in the government's reform package designed to improve working conditions for nursing staff. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Members of parliament refused to reduce the maximum working week for nurses from 50 to 45 hours, against the advice of the left leaning parties and the government. + Swiss voters give helping hand to nurses Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said that this was a key measure for the health of nursing staff and would not entail any significant additional costs. But to no avail. The parliamentary chamber also rejected the idea of improving compensation for hours worked on Sundays or public holidays. They must be reimbursed at 25% of salary, not 50%. Right-wing and centre-right lawmakers fear that this will lead to an increase in unnecessary costs. Better planning However, the parliamentarians were more generous on a number of points. Unplanned work must be compensated ...