A report published this week, shows welfare rates in 2023 were at their lowest in many years. At the same time, the percentage of those receiving welfare in mental distress is rising. Across the 14 cities included in the report, social assistance rates are lower than they have been for a long time. The number […]
Switzerland’s Socialist Party wants government to buy drug company
This week, the Socialist Party called on the Swiss government to buy Sandoz, a large maker of generic and biosimilar drugs, reported SRF. At a time when there are shortages of certain medicines, the party argues that profit maximising companies cannot be relied on to produce the drugs needed by the population at affordable prices. […]
Widespread discrimination and abuse in Swiss army revealed in survey
The results of a survey published on 31 October 2024 show widespread discrimination and abuse in Switzerland’s military. The survey was aimed at gauging the level of discrimination and abuse within the Swiss military and focused in particular on discrimination and abuse against women. Unlike men, women in Switzerland are not forced to do military […]
Zurich wants to charge more to park large cars
This week, the leaders of the municipality of Zurich voted in favour of charging large car owners more for resident parking permits, reported SRF. The prices of resident parking permits are set to be calculated based on vehicle weight. A similar charging model has already been introduced in the city of Biel/Bienne. In Zurich, owners […]
Swiss National Bank to issue new money
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has started the process of issuing a new series of banknotes by launching a design competition, it announced this week. The new banknotes will not be issued until the early 2030s at the earliest, said the bank. The new series will be dedicated to the unique topography of Switzerland and […]
Switzerland exploring new form of burial
In Switzerland, 90% of people opt to have their remains cremated. The other 10% opt for burial. However, traditional burial contaminates soil and takes up valuable space. While cremation consumes significant energy and pollutes the air. Four women who created the organisation Werde Erde hope to make compost burial an option, reported SRF. When someone […]
Majority of Swiss favour current deal with EU shows poll
A recent poll on the 25th anniversary of Switzerland’s current agreement with the EU shows a majority supports the agreements Switzerland has signed with the bloc. The poll run by gfs.bern for RTS shows that 73% believe Switzerland is better off with the current deal. Of the 73%, 8% say the agreement brings nothing but […]
End of lifelong widows’ pensions moves closer to reality
Pending new legislation means widows and widowers will soon receive a pension only until the youngest child reaches the age of 25. Currently, widows, but not widowers, receive a pension for life. For widowers the payments currently stop when the youngest child turns 18. This week, the Federal Council sent instructions to parliament to enact […]
Swiss government deficit shrinks further
This week, Switzerland’s federal government said it expects to run a deficit of CHF 900 million in 2024, a figure significantly below the original forecasted deficit of CHF 2.6 billion. The original figure has now dropped twice, once in June by CHF 1 billion and now by a further CHF 0.7 billion to CHF 0.9 […]
Swiss government wants to invest more in bomb shelters
In 1962, Switzerland introduced a law that required underground bomb shelter space be constructed for all residents. Since then shelters have been built into houses and communal spaces have been built by municipalities for those living in a building without one. This week, the federal government announced plans to increase spending to renew and maintain […]
