Immigrants: the "way" of the Swiss bishops” “

Social integration, professional training, crackdown on clandestine work and a new law on foreigners that places the person, and not the labour force, at the centre: these are some of the recommendations on immigration policy made by the Swiss bishops in a new document issued by the “Migratio” Commission. The document, entitled “Theses for immigration policy”, was presented during the bishops’ 261st ordinary Assembly held in the diocese of Sion (Givisiez/Fr) from 1 to 3 September. It was published just at a time when the federal Parliament is working on the reform of the federal law on foreigners. In the document the Swiss bishops urge an immigration policy “not aimed merely at the needs and requirements of the labour market, but one that takes account of demographic growth, social security and the country’s capacity to absorb immigrants”. The data on the drop in the birth rate in fact confirm that the Swiss population will decline in the years ahead, while the birth rate of immigrant children will increase (Swiss children 1.27; foreign children on average 1.93). This is at a time when the economy will have a need for “150,000 additional highly skilled workers”. “In future – write the Swiss bishops – the working population will be able to count on a large number of immigrant children and will increasingly have to rely on male and female workers aged between 50 and 65, as well as the general growth in the female workforce, to be able to ensure our country’s continuing prosperity”. The bishops therefore invite the Swiss government to “discuss with EU countries guidelines for immigration policy not only in terms of security”. They also urge the government to “place constraints on the clandestine work of foreign workers, also by controlling employers; to promote the vocational training and re-skilling of immigrant workers, in particular women; and especially to pass a law that “places the person, and not the work force, at the centre and creates conditions favourable to integration”. The Swiss Catholic Church will continue to devote itself to a “pastoral service for immigrants through the so-called pastoral centres for persons of foreign language”. The bishops have also decided to establish a Mission for gipsies based in Lucerne.