The Cultural Taskforce, of which the Swiss Musicians’ Union (SMV/USDAM) is a member, supports targeted improvements to the Swiss Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance (OASI) scheme. However, it opposes placing additional burdens on self-employed musicians and other cultural professionals.
Many musicians work part-time, hold down several jobs, or are self-employed. This increases the risk of gaps in old-age pension coverage. The Taskforce therefore supports measures aimed at closing these gaps, such as making daily sickness and accident benefits subject to OASI contributions and introducing reporting obligations for online platforms.
No increase in contributions for the self-employed
The Taskforce criticises the planned increase in OASI contributions for self-employed persons. Many cultural professionals have low and irregular incomes and already enjoy less favourable social protection than employees. Additional financial burdens are therefore not justified. The proposed modification of the degressive contribution scale is also rejected.
Further analysis of the social situation of the self-employed
The Taskforce is also cautious about incentives to continue working beyond the statutory retirement age. Instead, it calls for better data collection and more in-depth analysis of the social situation of self-employed workers, particularly those in vulnerable professional groups within the cultural sector.