Valérie Berset-Bircher

Ambassador, Head of International Labour Affairs - State Secretariat for Economic Affairs - SECO

Valérie Berset Bircher holds a PhD in law from the University of Geneva and from the University of Strasbourg (France). Her PhD focused on the impact of new technologies on labour law (international law – labour law – human rights – comparative law).

Valérie Berset Bircher has in-depth knowledge of international labor law issues. Valérie Berset Bircher deals with issues related to the global supply chain, sustainability, social responsibility of the company, international labor regulations and social partnership. She represents Switzerland in the International Labor Organization and in the United Nations (UNO) with regard to economy, finance and development. She was in charge of Swiss-ILO technical cooperation projects. Valérie Berset Bircher is a member of two federal committees: the Federal Commission for the Advisory Board of the National Contact Point for the OECD and the Tripartite Commission for ILO Affairs.

In January 2019, she was appointed Ambassador by the Federal Council and Head of the International Labor Affairs at the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs SECO. In 2022, she was seconded by SECO to the team of the Director General of the ILO in order to advise him on his entry into office and implement his strategic vision. She is actually Deputy Head of the Swiss Labour Directorate.