Cantonal Council OW Obwalden cantonal staff may now work until the age of 72
On Thursday, the Obwalden Cantonal Council debated the conditions of employment for cantonal administration and teaching staff. Among other things, it decided that employees may now work until the age of 72 if it is in the interests of the canton.
Instead of just two years longer, cantonal employees should be able to work until the age of 72, the government proposed. The FDP requested that the age limit be lowered to 70 and only for full-time employment. Secondary employment should only be possible in exceptional cases.
The SP parliamentary group considered the age limit of 72 to be "arbitrary" and requested that the limit be removed. The authorities should decide on an individual basis who has the skills to continue working, said Eva Morger (SP).
Government Councillor Cornelia Kaufmann Hurschler (center) said that an age limit was needed. This is because the risk of illness and consequently the obligation to continue to pay wages increases with age. She considered the FDP's motion to be too complicated and unsuitable in practice due to the terms "full-time and part-time".
Parliament rejected the SP's proposal and voted 30 to 21 in favor of the government's proposal in the final vote.
Family allowances remain unchanged
Family allowances were also discussed. Anyone who is entitled to child and education allowances receives CHF 1,200 per year and child in family allowances. The government proposed that employees should also receive allowances if there is competition for entitlement.
The preliminary consultation committee proposed leaving the relevant article of the law as it is and reducing the amount if parents receive benefits from third parties for the same child. The FDP proposed adjusting the family allowance to the workload. In the case of part-time work, the contributions should be reduced "pro rata".
The government decided not to oppose the committee's proposal. However, it spoke out against the FDP proposal. This would lead to "worse treatment" of certain people compared to today, said Government Councillor Hurschler. Of the 263 people receiving benefits, 99 would be affected. The majority of these are women with children who work part-time.
The SVP and the Center/GLP supported the commission's proposal. Daniel Blättler (SVP) said that this would avoid additional expenditure of CHF 130,000. Benno Dillier (Center/GLP) said that no one would be advantaged or disadvantaged with this variant.
Eva Morger (SP) argued that the CHF 130,000 would be worthwhile. The family allowances could be an incentive to motivate women to work and retain them as urgently needed skilled workers.
Martin Sigg (FDP) said that if money was to be distributed, then not with a watering can. The FDP proposal was about fairness. Because full-time employees should not be disadvantaged. In addition, no new incentives should be created to work a lower percentage.
Parliament voted 36 to 15 in favor of the Commission's proposal. The FDP's motion was rejected. The final vote will take place after a second reading.
As part of the debate on the State Administration Act, further changes to personnel law were decided. Among other things, parents will be entitled to 100 percent of their basic salary during maternity or paternity leave. In addition, vacation entitlement is to be increased by five days up to the age of 49 and by three days from the age of 50 to 59.
SDA
