Following a vote in the Swiss National Council, some foreigners in Switzerland could soon be made to take part in civil defence duties in the future.
Foreigners legally resident in Switzerland could be made to take part in civil defence duties, something supporters argue would better help social integration.
This follows a vote in the National Council on Thursday in which a motion to this effect was passed by 120 votes to 66. The issue will now move onto the Swiss Senate.
In Switzerland, civil protection duties are performed by those who are unfit for military service, working to protect the Swiss public from emergencies, conflict and natural disasters.
Now foreigners in the country could also be made to serve.
Centre Party National Councillor Martin Candinas, who tabled the motion, argued that including foreigners would not only help alleviate staff shortages faced by civil defence organisations but also better integrate foreigners.
By contributing to society and collective security, foreigners would also be better integrated into Swiss society, supporters of the move suggest.
Foreign nationals in Switzerland can already volunteer for civil defence participation, but the proposal, if passed in the Senate, would make it compulsory.
There are currently around 78,000 foreigners living in Switzerland with a permanent residence permit who are of conscription age, a number Candinas says could significantly improve staffing levels.
This works out to around 6,000 people per age cohort of whom around 4,800 would be eligible according to the criteria applicable to Swiss nationals, according to local media reports.
Defence Minister Martin Pfister, however, has criticised the proposal.
For the Federal Council, it constitutes ‘unequal treatment’ if duties were imposed on foreigners but no extra rights, such as the right to vote in federal polls, were granted.
