Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise again in 2026—but perhaps at a more moderate pace than in recent years, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced this week. After two years of steep increases, federal health officials are cautiously forecasting a slowdown. FOPH was nonetheless reluctant to over promise, reported RTS. In […]
Swiss union slams federal attack on minimum wages
Switzerland’s sometimes delicate balance between federal authority and cantonal autonomy is once again under strain. The Swiss Trade Union Federation (USS) has issued a stark warning: if the federal parliament proceeds with draft legislation that would curtail cantonal minimum wage laws, it will resist the measure with all available means, reported RTS. The controversy stems […]
Too many rooms – Switzerland’s housing shortage
Switzerland’s housing shortage is growing ever more acute. Yet many residents, particularly older ones, occupy more space than they need. If the population were more mobile, with downsizing more common, some pressure on the housing market might be eased—at least in theory. The mismatch between occupancy and need is pronounced. Among those under 44, households […]
Swiss military may tighten rules on conscientious objection
Switzerland’s military conscription currently offers young men an alternative: civilian service for those unwilling to bear arms. Yet this freedom of choice is now under political scrutiny. Several legislative proposals under discussion in parliament aim to make civilian service less appealing, according to Swiss public broadcaster SRF. Among them is a call to reinstate the […]
New corporate responsibility initiative submitted
A group is once again pushing for stricter rules to hold Swiss companies accountable for their human-rights and environmental impacts—both at home and abroad. The proposed initiative would make firms, including their subsidiaries, liable for damage caused throughout their operations. This is the second such effort. A previous attempt, the Corporate Responsibility Initiative, won a […]
Council of States Commission rejects Swiss neutrality initiative
An initiative, dubbed the Neutrality Initiative, aimed at adding the principle of permanent armed neutrality to Switzerland’s constitution faced a further set back this week. The wording also includes a far-reaching ban on sanctions, one of the triggers for the initiative – Switzerland has followed the EU in sanctioning Russia. The Foreign Affairs Committee of […]
What caused Switzerland’s worst landslide?
On Wednesday 28 May 2025, at around 3:30 pm, a large portion of the Birch Glacier, estimated at around 3 billion cubic metres, collapsed into the Lötschental valley destroying most of the village of Blatten. The landslide triggered a jolt equivalent to a 3.1 magnitude earthquake. Click here to view a video of the landslide, […]
Swiss health insurance premiums set to rise again in 2026
Swiss residents may soon face another jump in health insurance premiums. Comparis, a consumer price comparison service, forecasts an average increase of 4% for 2026. This would reflect a projected 3.7% rise in healthcare costs for the same period. According to Felix Schneuwly, health insurance expert at Comparis, the projected increase would mark a return […]
Swiss court challenges strict naturalisation policy
Switzerland’s naturalisation policy may change after a court ruling this week, reported SRF. On Wednesday, the Federal Supreme Court sided with a Turkish man whose citizenship application had been left in limbo for five years by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) over a traffic offence committed during his application process. SEM had treated the […]
Over 600,000 vehicles on Swiss roads beyond testing deadline
Switzerland’s cantonal vehicle inspection authorities are struggling to keep up with the country’s growing vehicle fleet. As a result, more than 600,000 vehicles currently on Swiss roads have missed their mandatory roadworthiness tests by over a year, according to data from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), reported RTS. Under Swiss regulations, new vehicles must undergo […]
