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 50% earned less. CHF 6,502 a month is an annual salary of CHF 78,024 (US$ […]
FILM: AMOUREUX DE MA FEMME – light-hearted French comedy
11 May 2018. AMOUREUX DE MA FEMME **1/2 (vo French) Do men really fantasize so vividly when confronted with a lovely young creature of the opposite sex? It’s certainly amusing to see it happening to this poor fellow – played by Daniel Auteuil, also director of the film – who is trying to juggle his […]
No risk from glyphosate in food, according to Swiss government
Glyphosate is the world’s most heavily used herbicide. Its largest use is in agriculture, which increased sharply after crops were genetically modified to make them resistant to the chemical. In March 2015, the IARC classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). It said there was limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans for non-Hodgkin […]
Child care tax deductions set to rise in Switzerland
Switzerland’s Federal Council, or cabinet, plans to increase the maximum annual deduction for child care costs to CHF 25,000 per child, up from CHF 12,100. This would allow parents to deduct up to this amount from their income for federal tax purposes but would not affect canton and commune taxes. Deductions could not exceed the […]
Internships – Switzerland’s Young Socialists caught preaching one thing and practicing another
In collaboration with the Swiss union Unia, Switzerland’s Young Socialists have launched a protest against the exploitation of interns. To get on the career ladder, many young people feel compelled to take internships offering little or no pay. The Young Socialists are demanding interns be better paid. Recent data from the Federal Statistical Office shows […]
Late trains – Switzerland’s delay hotspots
The cliché of Swiss trains always being on time is challenged by data published on the website opentransportdata.swiss. Analysis of this data by 20 Minuten, shows the most frequently delayed trains arrive from Italy. Mendrisio, near the Italian border in the canton of Ticino, was the worst performing station with 30% of trains delayed by […]
Swiss organic farming continues to grow but with big cantonal differences
Switzerland continues to shift towards organic farming. Between 2000 and 2017, the percentage of farm land dedicated to organic produce nearly doubled from 7.7% to 14.5%. After four years of decline from 2007 to 2010, Swiss organic farming took off again and has grown every year since, rising 6.6% in 2017. In 2017, the Swiss […]
Assisted suicide – Switzerland in the headlines
Last week, David Goodall, a 104 year old scientist from Australia, made headlines as he left Australia bound for Switzerland, where he plans to end his life. On Monday he arrived in Switzerland. Unable to legally access the assistance he desires at home in the state of Western Australia, he has flown to the other side […]
Is Swiss inflation back to stay?
Swiss inflation reappeared in February 2018 and has continued. According to the Federal Statistical Office, inflation was 0.2% in April. Since the beginning of 2018, prices have risen 0.9%. Jan-Egbert Sturm of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute says it shows the Swiss economy is doing well, and that inflation is close to what is “normal” […]
Spring weather set to bring heavy traffic over May’s long weekends
When sunshine combines with public holidays, Swiss roads grind to a crawl. May has three weekends extended by public holidays: Ascension (10 May), Pentecost (20 and 21 May) and Corpus Christi (31 May). All three are likely to bring freeway frustration. Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) warns drivers to expect delays on the A2, particularly […]
