On Friday, 14 June 2019, women across Switzerland plan to go on strike as part of a global movement calling for gender equality and an end to violence against women. Over the last 10 years, an average of 25 people have been killed annually as a result of domestic violence in Switzerland. 75% of the […]
Switzerland world’s 4th most competitive nation, according to business school ranking
Every year, Lausanne-based IMD business school publishes its global competitiveness ranking. Switzerland climbed from 5th last year to 4th behind Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. Venezuela (63rd) was last. The ranking, established in 1989, incorporates 235 indicators and takes into account a wide range of “hard” statistics such as unemployment, GDP and government spending […]
Swiss government’s counter proposal to tackle high Swiss prices
Many new to Switzerland are shocked by the prices of things. High Swiss prices have not gone unnoticed by locals either, many of whom shop in neighbouring countries to avoid them. However, cross-border shopping hurts the environment – more time is spent in cars – and hurts local Swiss retailers. There are many reasons for […]
Swiss open to the idea of raising retirement age, according to union
Employees Switzerland, a union organisation representing Swiss workers, is resigned to the idea of raising the retirement age, according to Swiss broadcaster RTS. Speaking to the newspaper NZZ am Sonntag, Stefan Studer, director of the association, said raising the retirement age is inevitable because of the financial difficulties facing Switzerland’s state pension system, known as […]
Protests against 5G mobile continue in Switzerland
Last week, a crowd assembled in Bern outside Switzerland’s federal parliament building to protest the roll out of 5G mobile technology in Switzerland. Frequencia, the organisation behind the demonstration, claims that around 3,000 people attended. Switzerland’s “Stop 5G” movement is demanding a halt to further roll out of the technology in Switzerland, a process already […]
The price of some Swiss train passes could rise significantly
Some travelers on Swiss trains could be in for a shock. The price of a GA travel card, an annual pass that allows unlimited travel of the Swiss Rail network, might rise 10% in 2021, according to the newspaper Le Matin. Compared to the price of other passes and tickets, the AG pass is relatively […]
Geneva blocks the erection of 5G mobile antennas
Last week, Antonio Hodgers, the head of Geneva’s executive, announced a ban on the erection of further 5G mobile antennas in the canton, according to an interview on RTS. Motivated by uncertainty on the potential health effects of the new technology, the temporary freeze is the most the cantonal government can do to stop the […]
Smoking ban on Swiss train platforms coming soon
Non-smokers will soon be able to breathe easily while waiting for Swiss trains, according to the newspaper Le Matin. In 2005, it was still possible to smoke on Swiss trains in special smoking carriages. From 1 June 2019, it won’t even be possible to smoke on train platforms. Smokers will soon have to take their […]
Two thirds of companies find administrative burden high and rising in Switzerland
Brought to you by Winbiz online accounting for Swiss businesses. A survey published this month shows that two thirds of Swiss companies find the administrative burden in Switzerland high or fairly high. Of the 2,042 companies surveyed in the autumn of 2018, 67.5% considered the burden of Swiss bureaucracy high or fairly high. The same percentage in […]
Switzerland slides one place in 2019 press freedom ranking
In 2019, Switzerland lost one place slipping from 5th to 6th place out of 180, according to the latest world ranking of press freedom by the organisation Reporters Without Borders. The change was largely driven by the stronger performance of Denmark, which moved up into 5th place. According to the report, the press in Switzerland […]
