The survey shows 67% of companies perceive the bureaucratic burden as fairly high or very high.
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Around two-thirds of Swiss firms consider the administrative burden placed on them to be high, according to a study carried out on behalf of the business federation economiesuisse.
Almost as many companies believe that bureaucracy has increased over the past five years.
This is revealed by the Bureaucracy Monitor published on Monday, which was carried out by the research institute gfs.bern on behalf of the business federation Economiesuisse. For this representative study, 1,527 companies from across Switzerland were surveyed between the end of June and the beginning of August.
According to the findings, 67% of companies perceive the bureaucratic burden as fairly high or very high. By contrast, 29% rate it as low. A total of 64% believe that the burden has increased over the past five years. Only 5% report a decrease.
Fewer investments and new products
The survey also highlights potential impacts on business operations. Around 30% of the companies surveyed state that they have already postponed, scaled back or abandoned projects due to the bureaucratic burden.
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Of the companies that have adjusted such plans, 41% cite the development of new products or services. For 39%, investments were affected. Planned staff expansion (23%) and the training of apprentices (19%) were also partially put on hold.
There are differences depending on company size. Among firms with more than 250 employees, 45% report that projects have been postponed or adjusted. For companies with fewer than ten employees, the figure is 20%.
Bureaucracy is particularly prevalent in relation to social security, the VAT sales tax and accounting. Two-thirds of companies also believe that administrative tasks take up too much of their staff’s time.
Business associations call for simplifications
For economiesuisse, the results are a warning sign. “The increasing regulatory burden and the associated bureaucracy are home-grown. Urgent action is needed to counter this,” said the association’s president, Silvan Wildhaber.
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Industry also sees a need for action. Swissmem president Martin Hirzel warned that the funds tied up in bureaucracy are not available for future investments. Companies are already under pressure due to falling profit margins.
Economiesuisse, together with other business associations, is calling for simpler rules, faster authorisation procedures and greater digitalisation of the administration.
The companies surveyed also see scope for improvement, particularly in the simplification of existing regulations. In their view, standardised forms and better-coordinated administrative procedures could also help to ease the burden.
However, the survey does not suggest a fundamental rejection of government regulations. For instance, 44% of companies consider the administrative burden to be at least partly socially justified. A further 24% regard it as mostly or entirely justified.
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Translated from German, reviewed by an English Department journalist.
