Starting this school year, young people in Geneva must stay in the education system until the day they turn 18. The old minimum leaving age was 15. The move is the result of a popular vote in October 2012 when 54.1% voted in favour of changes to the canton’s constitution containing the plan. The aim is […]
Swiss job numbers up but there are too few qualified workers
In the second quarter of 2018, the number of jobs in Switzerland rose to 5.048 million, a 2.1% increase on the second quarter of 2017. Regions rising the most were Lake Geneva (+3.0%), north west Switzerland (+3.0%), central Switzerland (+2.4%) and Zurich (+2.1%). Rises in job numbers in eastern Switzerland (+1.6%), Mittelland (+1.3%) and Ticino […]
Poorly integrated foreigners will soon risk losing their permits
Last week, the Federal Council looked again at residence permits and adopted new rules, which were accepted by parliament in 2016, according to the newspaper Le Matin. The new rules, which will be introduced at the beginning of 2019, will help foreigners integrate and remove permits from those who don’t. To aid integration, the special […]
Swiss study recommends 38 weeks of parental leave
A referendum calling for four weeks of paternity leave is currently working it’s way through the system. This week, a government commission gave its verdict on the vote, recommending two weeks of paternity leave instead of the four set out in the referendum’s text. Their commission’s main concerns are centred on the impact on companies […]
Cows suffer long after their horns are removed, says new research
A new study concludes that the pain associated with horn removal can last for months, according to a report by the Luzerner Zeitung. This conclusion supports the upcoming vote to penalize dehorning in Switzerland. The initiative, scheduled for 25 November 2018, entitled: For the dignity of farm animals, aims to withdraw farm subsidies from farmers […]
The secrets of the new 200 Swiss franc note
Switzerland began updating its notes starting with the 50 franc note in April 2016. It then issued the new 20 franc note in May 2017, and the new 10 in October 2017. The newest note to grace Swiss wallets, pockets and purses is the 200 franc note, which was launched on 22 August 2018. Switzerland’s […]
A cold front could bring snow to Switzerland this weekend
While it might be difficult to believe when it’s over 30 degrees, snow is forecast to fall above 2,000 metres in Switzerland this weekend, according to meteonews. High temperatures are expected to give way to high altitude snow from Friday as a cold front sweeps across Europe, according to the weather service. This Sunday, Swiss Meteo, […]
No handshake. No Swiss passport.
Last week, the commune of Lausanne rejected a couple’s application to become Swiss after they refused to shake hands with officials of the opposite sex, according to a report by Keystone-ATS published in Le Matin. Their application was rejected on the grounds that this attitude does not respect the equality of men and women, a […]
Switzerland’s most popular names in 2017
In Switzerland one name really stands out. At the end of 2017, 84,100 people called Maria were living in Switzerland, a number that far outstrips the second most popular female name Anna (41,950), according to figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Part of Maria’s secret to success is its appeal in all of Switzerland’s linguistic […]
Vevey’s three-day street circus starts this Friday
The 26th three-day Vevey festival of street artists starts on Friday 24 August at 3:30pm and takes place at nine locations on the cobbled streets of Vevey’s old town. The show, a kind of outdoor circus, includes acrobats, jugglers, mimers, fire breathers and tightrope walkers from around the world. The show, which showcases 20 artists […]
