Ordinance on Language Services (SDV) (SDV)

1 This Ordinance governs the provision of language services Scope of application

on behalf of cantonal judicial and administrative authorities and purpose.

2 Language services include

a. oral translation (interpreting),

b. written translation (translation),

c. language intermediation in the field of communication

surveillance (language intermediation).

3 The Ordinance aims to ensure the quality of service provision.

B. Organisation of the Language Service System

1. **Specialist Group**

**a. Composition**

The High Court and the Government Council shall establish a specialist group as the strategic management and decision-making body in the area of language services. This group shall consist of

a.8 two representatives of the High Court as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, respectively,

b. two representatives of the District Courts,

c. two representatives of the Department of Justice and Home Affairs,

d. two representatives of the Security Department,

e. one representative of the Department of Finance.

**b. Duties and Delegation of Duties**

**c. Decision-making**

2. The High Court shall elect the members according to para. 1 lit. a and b and shall appoint the Chairperson and their Deputy. The Government Council shall elect the remaining members. The election shall be for a term of office of four years.

3. The specialist group may invite representatives of other cantonal or municipal authorities as permanent attendees to its meetings. These attendees shall have an advisory vote.

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**211.17**

**Language Services Ordinance (LSO)**

1 The expert group ensures a high quality of service provision. It

a. accredits individuals who provide language services,

b. supervises the maintenance of the register of accredited individuals,

c. informs judicial and administrative authorities about the field of language services,

d. promotes cooperation with other cantons and the federal government in the field of language services,

e. issues organizational and procedural regulations,

f. issues guidelines for the application of these regulations, in particular for specifying the accreditation procedure,

g. supervises compliance with these regulations and guidelines.

2 It may delegate tasks to individual members or committees for independent execution. Excluded are

a. decisions concerning fundamental matters of language services,

b. the definitive withdrawal of accreditation, unless it is at the request of the affected person.

1 The expert group has a quorum if the majority of its members are present.

**2 It decides by simple majority of the members present.**

Each member is obliged to cast a vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the chairperson is decisive.

**3 By unanimous consent and if no member requests a deliberation, resolutions can also be passed by circular.**

**4 In urgent cases, the chairperson makes the decision.** He or she submits the decision to the expert group or the competent committee for approval.

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Language Services Ordinance (LSO)

211.17

1 The Central Office is the operational staff unit of the Expert Group. Central Office

It is affiliated with the High Court.

a. Composition and

2 It prepares the business of the Expert Group and implements the Functions

resolutions passed. In particular,

a. it maintains the register of accredited persons,

b. it provides advice on matters of language services,

c. it organises training and continuing education for persons who

provide language services.

3 It may

a. mediate assignments for the provision of language services or

provide technical means for assignment mediation,

b. enable access to training and continuing education offers for an

appropriate fee, also for persons who are not active on behalf of

cantonal court or administrative authorities.

1 The High Court appoints the Head of the b. Management

Central Office.

2 It can transfer the management of the Central Office to the Chair

of the specialist group.

C. Accreditation

1 If there is a need for the offered service, the General

Professional Group may accredit individuals who possess the professional and personal suitability for providing a language service.

2 It may subject the accreditation to conditions and requirements.

Accreditation is granted separately for each language service and type, and for each working language.

The applicant must

a. master the official language and the working language in spoken and written form,

b. possess a solid basic legal vocabulary in the official language and the working language, as well as a comprehensive general education,

c. be able to competently provide the language services for which they seek accreditation,

d. possess a professional understanding of their role,

e. have completed a training or further education designated by the expert group and passed the prescribed examinations.

Professional

Requirements

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Language Services Ordinance (LSO)

Personal

Requirements

Procedure

Effect

The applicant must

a. be capable of acting,

b. have a good reputation, particularly with regard to criminal record,

c. be entitled to work in the Canton of Zurich,

d. guarantee independent execution of mandates and correct conduct,

e. ensure adequate accessibility and availability.

1. Application for Accreditation

1 Anyone wishing to be accredited must submit a written application to the Central Office.

2 The applicant must

a. enclose the documents designated by the specialist group,

b. precisely specify the language services and working languages in which they intend to provide them,

c. credibly demonstrate that the requirements under §§ 9 lit. a–d and 10 are met.

3 The specialist group may, for the purpose of assessing the professional and personal suitability of the applicant,

a. obtain police information reports,

b. consult experts,

c. conduct interviews with the applicant,

d. order examinations.

4 A fee will be charged for the accreditation procedure. It is determined by the time spent and the number of official acts. It amounts to CHF 100 to CHF 900. In justified individual cases, the collection of a fee may be waived.

1 Courts and administrative authorities assign mandates for linguistic services to accredited persons.

2 They may exceptionally assign mandates to a non-accredited person if they are convinced of that person's professional and personal suitability and

a. no accredited person is available or

b. special circumstances require it.

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Ordinance on Linguistic Services (OLS)

211.17

3 Accreditation does not establish a right to receive a mandate for linguistic services, nor an obligation to accept such a mandate.

1 The Expert Group periodically reviews, and upon notification, Subsequent

whether the accredited persons continue to meet the requirements Review

for accreditation. Article 11, paragraph 3 applies mutatis mutandis. of Suitability

2 Members of judicial and administrative authorities are entitled,

without regard to their duty to maintain official secrecy, to report to

the Expert Group any doubts regarding the professional or personal

suitability of an accredited person or a person acting without accreditation.

1. **Provisional Withdrawal of Accreditation**

Accreditation may be provisionally withdrawn from a person if

a. criminal proceedings have been initiated against them,

b. there are other indications that they no longer meet the professional or personal requirements.

2. The withdrawal may be limited to individual language services or working languages.

3. The judicial and administrative authorities shall not award assignments to persons whose accreditation has been provisionally withdrawn until a final decision is made.

1 Final Withdrawal of Accreditation

Accreditation shall be finally withdrawn from a person if this person

a. requests it;

b. no longer fulfils the professional or personal requirements.

2 The withdrawal may be limited to individual language services or working languages.

Register of Accredited Persons

The register contains the following information about the accredited person

a. Name, first name, gender, and year of birth,

b. Type of accreditation,

c. Language competencies,

d. Education and professional activity,

e. Information on accessibility and availability,

f. Special notes on deployment possibilities.

1 Access to the Register

b. Access

a. cantonal judicial and administrative authorities, as well as municipal

police forces and civil registry offices,

b. the accredited person in relation to their entry.

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Ordinance on Language Services (SDV)

2 In individual cases, access may be granted to

a. other municipal authorities,

b. private individuals, insofar as they perform public duties,

c. lawyers representing individuals before cantonal judicial and adminis-

trative authorities,

d. judicial and administrative authorities of other cantons and the Con-

federation.

The following decisions shall be communicated in writing to the persons concerned

a. accreditation,

b. provisional withdrawal of accreditation, provided there are no overriding public interests to the contrary,

c. definitive withdrawal of accreditation.

Decisions of the professional group, its committees, or its mem-

bers may be challenged by appeal in accordance with §§ 19 et seq. of the Administrative Justice Act³ before the Administrative Commission of the High Court.

Communication of

Decisions

Legal Protection

D. Commissions for Language Services

1 Orders for language services are established by contract

and are subject to public law. Insofar as this Ordinance contains no

deviating provisions, the contractual relationship shall be governed mutatis

mutandis by the provisions of the Code of Obligations concerning simple

agency contracts.

2 Persons providing language services on behalf of judicial and

administrative authorities are considered non-self-employed for this activity.

The proof that they have been recognised as self-employed by the competent

compensation fund for this purpose remains reserved.

Legal nature

Duties

a. of the mandatary

1 The mandated person is responsible for the professional provision

of language services.

2 They fulfil the assignment personally. They may only engage auxiliary personnel or

transfer the assignment to third parties with prior consent

of the commissioning authority.

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Language Services Ordinance (LSO) 211.17

3 They interpret and translate truthfully (Art. 307 SCC),

maintain official secrecy (Art. 320 SCC) and undertake the necessary

precautions for the protection of personal data, in particular

in the areas of data security, data storage, and data

transmission.

4 They promptly inform the commissioning authority if circumstances

exist that could give rise to the appearance of a conflict of interest.

b. the commissioning

The commissioning authority

a. exercises due care in the selection, instruction, and supervision of the mandated person,

b. determines the remuneration for services of the mandated person in accordance with §§ 23–27 and the compensation tariff pursuant to the Annex, and arranges for its payment.

1. **Basic Compensation for Interpreting**

Compensation for interpreting is based on the time spent, the timing, and the level of difficulty. Travel time and costs for arrival and return are compensated with a flat-rate travel allowance.

2. Time spent is billed in 15-minute units. A minimum of one hour per assignment plus the flat-rate travel allowance will be compensated. Waiting times are compensated at the applicable rate, with the exception of a 30-minute lunch break.

3. In the event of a significant shortening of the assignment, half of the agreed duration will be compensated, but no more than two hours per half-day.

4. If an assignment is cancelled less than 24 hours before the planned start, half of the agreed duration will be compensated, but at least one hour and no more than two hours per half-day. A flat-rate travel allowance is not due.

5. For interpreting via telecommunication, a minimum of half an hour of time spent will be compensated. A flat-rate travel allowance is not due.

6. Further expenses and outlays will not be compensated.

7. Compensation for sign language interpreting is subject to agreement.

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Language Services Ordinance (LSO)

a. Interpreting

b. Translating

c. Language brokering

d. Special assignments

e. Payment receipt

1 Compensation for translation is determined by the scope of the target text and the degree of difficulty. In special cases, compensation is calculated based on the scope of the source text.

2 The scope is calculated according to standard pages. A standard page comprises 1800 characters including spaces. Incomplete standard pages are rounded up to the next half standard page. A minimum of one standard page is compensated per translation.

3 In cases of extraordinary time urgency, a surcharge according to the Annex may be agreed upon.

4 Special work in connection with translations that cannot be compensated on a per-page basis will be compensated according to the hourly rate for interpreting or another pre-agreed tariff.

1 The basic compensation for language interpretation in the area of

communications surveillance is determined by the time spent and

the time of deployment. Time and costs for travel to and from the site

are compensated with a travel lump sum.

2 Further expenses and outlays will not be compensated.

The remuneration for special language services,

in particular longer-term interpreting, interpreting on business trips,

or larger translation assignments, can be agreed upon separately.

1 The instructing authority shall create a voucher for each interpreting and translation assignment. For language mediation assignments, the voucher shall be created monthly.

2 The voucher shall contain

a. Time, duration, language, case number, applied rate and any rate surcharges for interpreting assignments.

b. Scope, language, case number, applied rate and any rate surcharges for translation assignments.

c. Scope, language, investigative procedure, applied rate and any rate surcharges for language mediation assignments.

3 The instructing authority shall transmit the payment voucher to the body responsible for disbursing the compensation.

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Language Services Ordinance (LSO)

E. Transitional Provision

211.17

7 1 Persons who, at the time of the entry into force of this

Ordinance, are registered in the interpreter register pursuant to the

Interpreter Ordinance of 26/27 November 2003, are considered

accredited to the previous extent as follows

a. for interpreting;

b. for translation for a maximum of three years;

c. for linguistic mediation for a maximum of five years.

2 Until the issuance of guidelines for these accreditation procedures,

the accreditation for translation and for linguistic mediation is

governed by the Guidelines for the Accreditation Procedure for

Interpreting. The accreditation shall commence upon the entry into

force of this Ordinance

a. for translation for a maximum of three years;

b. for linguistic mediation for a maximum of five years.

1 OS 74, 176; for grounds, see ABI 2019-02-01.

2 Entry into force: 1 July 2019.

3 LS 175.2.

4 LS 211.1.

5 SR 220.

6 SR 311.0.

7 Version according to amendment of 1/6 February 2023 (OS 78, 137; ABI 2023-02-10). In force since 1 May 2023.

8 Version according to amendment of 28 February/25 March 2024 (OS 79, 167; ABI 2024-03-28). In force since 1 June 2024.

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Appendix: Schedule of Fees

Linguistic Services Ordinance (LSO)

1. Rates with Accreditation

1.1 Interpreting

1.2 particularly difficult interpreting

assignments

1.3 Translations

1.4 particularly difficult translations

1.5 Linguistic mediation in the field

of communications surveillance

CHF 90 per hour

CHF 120 per hour

CHF 90 per standard page

CHF 120 per standard page

CHF 75 per hour

2. Rates without Accreditation

2.1 Interpreting

CHF 75 per hour

2.2 Translations

CHF 75 per standard page

2.3 Linguistic mediation in the field

of communications surveillance

CHF 60 per hour

3. Surcharges

3.1 for interpreting and linguistic mediation

between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

50%

3.2 for interpreting and linguistic mediation

on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays

between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.

25%

3.3 for extraordinarily urgent translations

25%

4. Flat-rate Travel Expenses

4.1 for interpreting

4.2 for linguistic mediation in the field of

communications surveillance

flat rate CHF 75

per assignment

flat rate CHF 40

per day of assignment

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