EasyGov: The online counter for companies

EasyGov is part of Switzerland’s e-government strategy. The Federal Council is constantly looking for ways to make administrative tasks and obligations easier for companies in Switzerland. EasyGov, an online platform launched in 2017 to benefit companies and businesses, facilitates electronic processing of various permit and licence applications as well as reporting procedures in Switzerland, among them for instance the entry or mutation in the commercial registry, or the application for debt recovery and enforcement. It is the declared goal of the Federal Government to expand the portfolio of services offered through EasyGov. The objective of the present project is to allow the electronic submission and processing of work permit application via EasyGov.

«This is an extensive project», says Sandra Rigassi, Head of Industrial Relations at AWA Basel-Stadt: «The coordination involves 26 cantons and more than 26 government agencies, all of which function differently and whose digital set-up varies – it’s a great example of the Swiss federalist system at work, and it requires a substantial effort.»

The mandate of expanding the services of EasyGov was given by the Federal Government to the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO). Within SECO, it is the section for SME policy that is responsible for the launch of the project group and the implantation of the Federal mandate. In addition to SECO staff, members of the project group include representatives from the State Secretariat of Migration SEM, of the Association of Cantonal Migration Services VKM and the Association of Swiss Labour Market Offices VSAA.

The Federal government offered the cantons the option to participate in the project as a cantonal pilot partner. The Canton of Basel-Stadt accepted this offer. «This was a good decision», says Sandra Rigassi who herself is gladly contributing her expertise to the project group. For technical input and advice, Rigassi can count on the valuable experience of Hansjörg Hänggi, Head of Department Cantonal E-Government and Deputy Head ISO Basel-Stadt, who has also joined the project group.

Six pilot cantons have spent the past months with the technological implementation and integration of several services related to many aspects of applying for work permits. The cantons are Aargau, Basel-Stadt, St.Gallen, Thurgau and Zurich, plus the Valais, although with a limitation: «The Valaises are part of planning and conceptualisation, but not of the testing phase», according to Rigassi. A first stage project of the pilot is dedicated to the registration of «Preliminarily accepted and approved refugees», she says. «Here, the Office of Migration of the Canton of Basel-Stadt clearly took the lead. Registrations of such refugees should be possible online and go live on EasyGov by the second half of 2021», according to Sandra Rigassi.

The project is implemented over several stages. Another area where great progress has been made is the handling of applications for cross-border work permits. «This will be followed by permits for service providers from EU/EFTA states for more than 90 days, including the permit for service providers from EU/EFTA states for more than 90 and less than 120 days which has not been restricted by quotas», explains Rigassi. «EasyGov», she continues, «is conceived as a 'one-stop shop' for companies. Once they’ve done their one-time registration, they can access a host of administrative services and get them done – all while having all-day access, instead of being limited to the office hours of a government agency».