Legislation requires that foreign workers' wages are not be lower than those of Swiss nationals with the same qualifications. Federal law provides freedom of association for employers and employees. Peppers tend to concentrate on the upper management. In general, the SGB has a socialist orientation. There are great variations in collective bargaining.
Rules vary across sectors and regions.
Most notably the engineering industry has a leading role in setting wage policy. There is a wide leeway for company-specific agreements. The state does not interfere in collective bargaining. If conciliation fails, the issues can be resolved through binding voluntary arbitration. Cantonal Labour Courts do not play an important role in collective bargaining.