Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to spend CHF 6 billion on a new fleet of military jets to replace its ageing fleet of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets. With 50.15% of voters in favour of the purchase and 49.85% against it, the margin was narrow. Polls just before the vote suggested 58% would vote in […]
Swiss voters reject higher tax deductions for children and childcare
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to end accept a government plan to increase tax deduction for children and childcare. Switzerland’s Federal Council and Parliament decided to increase the per child deduction from CHF 6,500 to CHF 10,000 and the maximum allowance for money spent on childcare outside the family from CHF 10,100 to CHF […]
Swiss voters accept 2 weeks of paternity leave
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to accept a plan to offer two weeks of paternity leave funded by an increase in salary taxes. Based on the latest vote count a majority of Swiss voters (60.32%) have accepted this initiative. The canton of Vaud had the highest majority in favour of the plan (81.64%). Geneva […]
Swiss voters reject ending EU agreement on free movement
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to end Switzerland’s agreement with the EU on the free movement of people. Based on the latest vote count a majority of Swiss voters (61.69%) have rejected this initiative. Only the cantons of Schwyz (53.36% yes), Glarus (50.47% yes), Appenzell Innerrhoden (54.29% yes) and Ticino (53.14% yes) had majorities […]
Referendum: higher tax deductions for children and childcare
In Switzerland, parents can claim tax allowances for their children. Currently they can deduct CHF 6,500 for each child plus up to CHF 10,100 per child for money spent on childcare from their federal tax calculation. Residents of Switzerland pay three layers of tax: federal, cantonal and municipal. These particular deductions apply only to federal […]
Referendum: whether to make it easier to hunt wolves
Switzerland has laws to protect wild animals. The current rules were introduced in 1986 when there were no wolves. In 1995, wolves started to return to Switzerland. By 2019, there were 80 wolves living in Switzerland and in some places packs have formed. Wolves have attacked sheep and goats and been seen near villages, something […]
Switzerland adds 18 more regions to its quarantine list
Today, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) added 18 regions to its compulsory quarantine list. Anyone arriving in Switzerland from these place from 28 September 2020 will be required by law to quarantine for 10 days. From 14 September 2020, Switzerland shifted from a system of listing entire countries to one which lists whole […]
Cost of Swiss health insurance to rise in 2021
Compulsory Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise by an average of 0.5% in 2021, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). The average monthly premium will rise to CHF 316.50, 0.5% higher than in 2020. Premiums have risen an average of 3.7% p.a. since obligatory insurance was introduced in Switzerland in […]
Coronavirus: weekly cases down 15% in Switzerland
In the week to 25 September 2020, the reported number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections in Switzerland was 2,581, 15% lower than the 3,044 cases recorded the week before. The total number of recorded cases stood at 51,864 by 25 September 2020. The 7-day rolling average number of daily new cases this week was 369, down from 435 […]
Coronavirus: 20 percent of cases asymptomatic, according to Swiss study
Research published recently by the University of Bern estimates around 20% of Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic. When the researchers analysed 79 studies done from March to June 2020 and adjusted them for various factors, chief among them removing pre-symptomatic cases – those with no symptoms that went on to develop them – from those classified […]
