For the first time, a survey by Switzerland’s head teachers’ association asked about parent-teacher relations. In French-speaking1 Switzerland, 55% listed parent-teacher relations as a principle concern, in second place after concern over the health of teachers (73%), who are finding their job increasingly stressful. Across the rösti graben in German-speaking Switzerland, 45% thought parent-teacher relations […]
Archives for June 2018
Switzerland votes this weekend on its banking system and gambling rules
On Sunday 10 June 2018, Swiss voters will vote on two federal initiatives. Vote to change Swiss gambling rules The plan aims to update existing laws on gambling in Switzerland. Among the changes are the removal of taxation on winnings up to one million francs, the application of Swiss law to any entity offering gambling […]
Swiss pensions – lump sum withdrawal restrictions rejected by Council of States
Against the wishes of the Federal Council, Switzerland’s upper house, the Council of States, rejected a plan to prevent people from withdrawing lump sums from their 2nd Pillar pensions, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève. Last week, the Council of States voted 25 to 15 to reject the plan. The Federal Council thinks forcing […]
Switzerland loses a newspaper
Born as the La Tribune de Lausanne in 1893, the newspaper Le Matin, will roll off printing presses for the last time on 21 July this year, announced its owner Tamedia today. The newspaper, which lost CHF 6.3 million last year, will lay off 41 staff and continue as a digital publication. Over the last decade the paper […]
Swiss post ranked best in the world
For the second year in a row, Switzerland’s postal service came first in the Integrated Index for Postal Development. Produced by the Universal Postal Union, a UN agency, the Index covers 173 countries and measures four things: reliability, reach, relevance and resilience. Global postal networks, employing 5.32 million people around the world, are seen as a […]
Swiss unemployment continues to fall
The number of registered unemployed in Switzerland dropped by 9% in May 2018 to a rate of 2.4%, down from 2.7% in April, according to a report by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The rate in May 2018 was 22% lower than in May 2017. Switzerland’s unemployment hasn’t been this low since 2008. […]
FILM: THE BOOK CLUB – star-powered chuckles
8 June 2018. THE BOOK CLUB **1/2 Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen – fine actresses (Keaton and Fonda are both Oscar-winners) and old time troupers. Add Mary Steenburgen and they make up the Book Club, a foursome of close friends from way back who like to read books and discuss literature. Median age around […]
Nestlé plans to move 580 jobs out of Switzerland
Last week, Nestlé announced plans to cut its Swiss workforce by 580. The plans involve restructuring its IT department, with a focus on extending its technology hub in Spain. Over the next 18 months, this re-organization could lead to a reduction of up to 500 IT positions in Switzerland, said the company. A source close […]
British man shows challenges of getting Swiss citizenship
A British man who has lived most of his life in Switzerland missed out on Swiss citizenship recently when he failed his citizenship test. Anyone with children in the Swiss school system will know how tough Swiss marking can be. 94% does not get you the top grade of 6 in a school test. It […]
Plastic attacks hit Swiss supermarkets
Shoppers across Switzerland have started dumping plastic wrapping at supermarkets in protest at what they see as excessive plastic packaging. The practice, which started in at a Tesco in Keynsham near Bristol in the UK in March – see video below, has spread around the world. Groups, such as Naries, the association behind a plastic […]