The Swiss postal service could be less punctual in future, thanks to new reforms announced by the Federal Council. The changes would see quality standards relaxed in favour of saving money and digitising services.
By global comparison, Swiss Post is often rated as one of the best and most punctual in the world. In 2024, 97,4 percent of A-Class letters reached their destination on time, alongside 99,1 percent of B-Class mail.
However, the Federal Council wrote in a statement that maintaining the system as it is is becoming a financial burden, especially amid the “massive decline in the number of physically delivered letters.” Last year, Swiss Post delivered 1,556 billion letters, 5,5 percent fewer than the previous year and around a third less than a decade ago. While the publicly owned company did make a profit of 324 million francs in 2024, many see the company as unsustainable.
Therefore, under the new reforms, the government will loosen the punctuality standards on Swiss Post. Instead of requiring that 97 percent of letters and 95 percent of parcels and newspapers arrive on time, the company would only need to deliver 90 percent of all goods punctually.
This is in line with other countries in Europe, like Germany, which are lowering their punctuality standards in order to be more efficient and sustainable. In addition, the government will only require the postal service to deliver to cities, towns, villages and settlements which are inhabited year-round.
Finally, the reforms would require Swiss Post to offer “digital letters” as part of its basic service. This is a highly secure system in which letters are sent via the internet, after which the recipient can decide whether to receive the post physically or online.
The proposal adds to other widespread efforts to make Swiss Post more financially viable. These include offering new products like mobile phone packages and announcing that the company would close one in five post office branches between 2024 and 2028.
The Federal Council argued that the changes would allow Swiss Post "to optimise its processes and thus provide universal service more efficiently and profitably." They also hope the reforms will ease pressure on the system during peak periods such as Christmas and Black Friday.
In a statement, Swiss Post praised the changes, arguing that the government is “modernising Swiss Post's mission and thus responding to changing customer needs.” They argued that denying service to non-year-round settlements would only impact 2 percent of the population and “significantly increase delivery efficiency.” The firm added that relaxing punctuality requirements would “have a positive impact on the company's financial viability.”
However, the Federal Council’s reforms to the postal service are expected to meet heavy resistance in parliament. Speaking back when the initial plans were first floated, Social Democratic National Councillor David Roth said that the reforms are part of Communications Minister Albert Rösti’s (SVP) plan to “dismantle the public service.”
Others fear the plans are a step in the wrong direction. Green Liberal National Councillor Barbara Schaffner argued that the biggest savings at Swiss Post could be made by cutting down the number of days that post is delivered, as is being planned in the Netherlands.
“Urgent things are no longer sent by letter these days anyway…Instead, the Federal Council wants to reduce the reliability of deliveries - that makes no sense to me at all," she noted. The reforms will remain in consultation until August, after which they will be debated and voted on by lawmakers.
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