This week, Switzerland’s government set a date for the introduction of more generous tax deductions for childcare. From 1 January 2023, parents will be able to deduct up to CHF 25,000 per child in childcare costs from their annual taxable income, reported RTS. Currently, the maximum is CHF 10,100 per child. The change is the […]
Covid: Swiss government recommends vaccination of 5-11 year olds
This week, Switzerland’s federal government recommended two-dose Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11, reported RTS, in particular those suffering from chronic illness. On 10 December 2021, Swissmedic, Switzerland’s drug approval agency, announced its approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use on children of this age. Once the vaccines are available for this age […]
Switzerland to follow France and investigate sexual abuse in Catholic Church
Following in the footsteps of France the Catholic Church in Switzerland recently instructed two historians to investigate sexual abuse within the organisation, reported RTS. The researchers running the investigation are from the University of Zurich. They now have the task of collecting testimony from victims which will form the basis of a report on sexual […]
Covid: Vaud brings back masks in schools
On 25 November 2021, the government of the canton of Vaud announced the return of measures to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The measures include reintroducing masks at school and accelerating the rollout of booster shots. The government said that the canton is at the beginning of a new wave of infection and […]
Swiss government moves closer to legalising cannabis
This week, a Council of States commission accepted a plan to regulate the cannabis trade in Switzerland, reported 20 Minutes. This decision by the public health commission follows an earlier one by a parliamentary commission looking at the same question. The way is now clear for parliament to create a new law that lifts the […]
Most popular Swiss names in 2020
In 2020, the most popular baby names in Switzerland were Mia and Noah. Mia is a long time favourite, scoring the top spot in 2019 and 2020. Noah has had a good run in the top spot for boys. It came top in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2019, the top […]
8-step guide to hiring a nanny in Switzerland
Brought to you by quitt.ch – No. 1 provider of registration and administration services for domestic help in Switzerland. Corona virus information In quitt’s Coronavirus FAQ, you will find answers to key questions related to Coronavirus and home employees. 1. What do nannies cost in Switzerland? Nannies are expensive in Switzerland. Average monthly salaries range […]
Nearly 1 in 3 children suffer violence in Switzerland
Nearly a third of children and adolescents in Switzerland suffer physical violence at school, according to a study by the NGO UNICEF. In addition, 29% of children surveyed reported experiencing physical violence at home. Between November 2019 and June 2020, 1715 children and adolescents between 9 and 17 were surveyed across Switzerland and Liechtenstein about […]
Ticks and lyme disease – it’s time to be careful
In spring tiny ticks emerge in their tiny nymph form. These small blood sucking insects carry diseases, bad ones. April, May, June, July and August are when most people get infected, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. Ticks become active when the temperature reaches 7 degrees. The most common tick-borne infection is […]
Nearly 7% of Swiss primary school children repeat a year
Schools around the world hold struggling pupils back to give them a second chance to master knowledge. Switzerland is no exception. Recent data show that 6.7% of primary school pupils repeated a year during their years at primary school (2012-2018) with significant differences between gender and canton. In Switzerland, education is run by the nation’s […]
