Times change and so have the requirements for becoming Swiss. On the 1st of January 2018 the process got tougher. New language requirements, the need to have a C-permit and more questions on applicants’ knowledge of Switzerland are the main … [Read more...]
News and Features
Median Swiss salary rises
Swiss salaries have risen according to a recently published report by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office. The median gross monthly salary was CHF 6,5021 in 2016, CHF 313 higher than in 2014. 50% of Swiss workers earned more than this and … [Read more...]
Swiss earthquake – Vevey wobbles
If you live near Vevey you might have felt a mild earthquake this morning at around 11:32 am when an earthquake measuring 2.9 struck. No damage was reported and many would not have noticed anything. An earthquake of a similar magnitude (3.1) … [Read more...]
CANNES – Neptune reports from Cannes – part 2
Where do I begin in this second week? Too many films, too many events, so many encounters. But hey, this is Cannes and it's like the whole world is happening here - beauty, emotions, anxieties, politics...it's all here in a microcosm of life on this … [Read more...]
Disability welfare – fraud investigations expected to save 170 million
By January 2018, the number receiving disability welfare in Switzerland had dropped to 217,200, 40,300 fewer than in 2006 when the number reached a record 257,500. Switzerland's Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) attributes the reduction … [Read more...]
Guides
Setting up a business in Switzerland – a guide
Brought to you by Winbiz online accounting for Swiss businesses. So you have decided to start a business. You have a business plan and are ready to get started. Before you launch you need a name and possibly a company. Broadly there are two options in Switzerland. One is to set up a company, the […]
7-step guide to hiring a cleaner in Switzerland
Brought to you by quitt.ch 1. What do cleaners cost in Switzerland? Cleaners are expensive in Switzerland. Prices typically range from around CHF 20 to CHF 30 an hour depending on the location and level of experience. Prices are high, partly because of the rising value of the Swiss franc, which has risen by around 35% […]
Activities
Blooming Swiss narcissus season approaches
Updated on 17 April 2018. That small window where the hillsides turn white with narcissus (often referred to in English as a white daffodil) is almost upon us again. One of the best places to see these stunning flowers is at Les Pleiades … [Read more...]
5 best mountain spas in French-speaking Switzerland
ALL YEAR ROUND The Alps are synonymous with skiing but alpine geothermal springs and spas are sometimes overlooked. If the thought of lugging skis, poles and person to the ski lift to spend a day risking life and limb on snow isn’t appealing, … [Read more...]
Chaplin’s World – enter the home and life of a comic genius
Film legend Charlie Chaplin spent 24 years living in the Manoir de Ban, a grand old mansion above Vevey in Switzerland. In 2016, his charming former home and grounds were cleverly and artfully transformed into Chaplin’s World and opened to the … [Read more...]
