Evangelical churches in Switzerland voice opposition to employment on Sundays
In a recent development, the Swiss free evangelical churches have publicly expressed their opposition to an initiative that proposes extending the maximum daily working time and reducing the minimum rest period, potentially allowing more employees to work on Sundays.
The initiative, titled "More freedom to organise working from home," was presented by the National Council's Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK-N). However, the churches believe the measure does not meet a pressing social need and ignores the need to protect employees.
The free evangelical churches in German-speaking Switzerland, represented by Freikirchen.ch, have voiced their concerns, stating that Sunday has core values of importance both socially and religiously. They uphold the principle of Sunday as a day of rest and worship, aligned with their Christian beliefs about the sanctity of the Sabbath.
The churches emphasize that Sunday should be reserved for spiritual activities and family time, opposing economic or political pressures that seek to relax these restrictions. They are concerned about the growing number of employees affected by exhaustion or burnout, as studies suggest that the increasing mix of work and private life is a significant factor.
While the churches welcome the Commission's concern to promote the reconciliation of work and family life, they have not expressed support for the initiative's proposed extension of working hours and reduction in rest periods. They have also not commented on the potential impact of the initiative on society's common day to relax, structure the week, and participate in community, family, and social life.
Peter Schneeberger, president of the federation, highlighted that Sunday offers society a common day to relax, structure the week, and participate in community, family, and social life, as well as attend a church service. He believes the amendment sends the wrong message and ignores the need to protect employees.
The initiative allows occasional work on Sundays on the employee's own initiative. However, the Swiss free evangelical churches remain firm in their opposition, upholding their convictions about Sabbath sanctity and concerns about social impacts. They aim to preserve Sunday as a meaningful day for worship and rest rather than commercial activity.
[1] Understanding the typical evangelical and free church focus on Scripture, Sabbath observance, and local church autonomy in decision-making helps explain this position.
- The evangelical churches in Switzerland are against the proposed extension of working hours and reduction in rest periods, as they consider Sunday a day of rest and worship, aligned with their Christian beliefs about the sanctity of the Sabbath.
- The initiative's focus on allowing more employees to work on Sundays is met with opposition by the churches, as they believe it disrupts the traditional use of Sunday for spiritual activities, family time, and relaxation.
- In light of the increasing debate about work-life balance and the potential for exhaustion or burnout, the churches have highlighted their concerns about the growing number of employees affected by this mix.
- The churches argue that Sunday should not be used for commercial activity, as it offers society a common day for relaxation, structure the week, and participate in community, family, and social life, including church services.
