A planned overhaul of unemployment rules for cross-border workers in the European Union could prove costly for Switzerland. Ambassadors from EU member states have backed a change that would shift responsibility for unemployment benefits from a worker’s country of residence to the country where they were last employed. Under the current system, in place since […]
A plan to tax flights to fund trains
A new Swiss initiative seeks to tilt travel away from planes and towards rail. Launched by actif-trafiC and backed by a coalition of campaign groups and political parties, it proposes a levy on airline tickets and private jet travel to fund public transport and expand cross-border rail links. The logic is straightforward: flying is too […]
A new proposal to make it easier to become Swiss reaches parliament
A proposal to ease Switzerland’s naturalisation rules has reached the Swiss National Council, Switzerland’s parliament. The so-called Democracy Initiative has already cleared the first hurdle. Backers gathered 104,782 valid signatures—comfortably above the 100,000 required—forcing a national vote. The plan would make naturalisation more administrative and less discretionary. Applicants who have lived legally in Switzerland for […]
Shrinking fuel supply casts doubt over summer flights
With the Strait of Hormuz still disrupted global supplies of jet fuel are under strain. A handful of flights have already been cancelled. The longer the conflict drags on, the more the aviation industry is likely to feel the effects. Airlines have begun to adjust. Some are trimming schedules in response to higher fuel costs. […]
Swiss government looking at replacing Microsoft
The federal government in Switzerland wants to gradually reduce its long-term dependence on Microsoft, according to a report in the NZZ am Sonntag. The shift marks a notable change in direction and has been welcomed by several politicians and technology experts. For now, dependence remains widespread. Around 54,000 workstations in the federal administration have recently […]
Swiss government wants more Sunday shopping
For newcomers from much of the rest of the world, shopping in Switzerland can come as a surprise. Limited weekend trading and early closing hours have earned the country a nickname among some expatriates: “Shutzerland”. The Federal Council now wants to loosen the rules slightly, reported SRF. It supports allowing shops to open on up […]
Swiss exports weakest in 5 years
Swiss trade weakened at the start of 2026. Exports fell by 4.2% in the first quarter, compared with the previous three months, to CHF 66.9bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). That is their lowest level since late 2021. There were signs of a rebound in March. Seasonally adjusted exports […]
Early-onset colorectal cancer on the rise in Switzerland
Colorectal cancer among younger people in rising across the world. A new study published this week shows Switzerland is no exception. About seven in 100,000 people under 50 are diagnosed annually. and the trend is moving in the wrong direction. The study by researchers at the University of Geneva and Geneva’s University Hospital analysed nearly […]
Swiss commission backs construction of new nuclear power plants
A parliamentary commission narrowly backed allowing the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland. By 13 votes to 12, the Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy endorsed an amendment to the nuclear energy law, reported SRF. The commission’s position aligns with the indirect counter-proposal from the Federal Council and the Council of […]
Swiss wages surge ahead of inflation
Nominal wages in Switzerland rose rise by an average of 1.8% in 2025, with real wages increasing by 1.6%. Swiss purchasing power therefore grew for a second consecutive year. Wage growth picked up noticeably in 2025 and, for the first time in years, more was retained in real terms as inflation remained subdued. According to […]
