Taxi firms must join the SUVA

A taxi company from Zurich which, in addition to ordering and arranging taxi services, also transports people itself must insure all its employees with the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA). This was decided by the Federal Administrative Court after the SUVA had classified the taxi drivers as gainfully employed.

The Court deemed it irrelevant that most transport services take place mainly as an intermediary transaction between customers and taxi drivers with their own vehicles. Since the company uses its own minibus to transport goods and people, it is classified as a transport company within the meaning of the Swiss Accident Insurance Act (UVG).

In addition, the Court ruled that the criteria for gainful employment are met:

• no business risk
• dependent on the taxi company
• no large investments

For this reason, all employees must be insured with the Swiss social security authority (SVA). Virtually all taxi drivers in Switzerland are affected by this new regulation. It must also be assumed that the drivers will now have to be enrolled in occupational pension schemes. (Source: BVG C-6120/2017 of 20/8/2019)