Around three years ago, the Swiss canton of Jura introduced a minimum wage of CHF 20 an hour (US$ 21.65). Now there is political pressure relook at the move, according to RTS. A group of cantonal parliamentarians from the PDC (CVP) is pushing for a review of the situation in response to pressure from some […]
Four ways the world has changed for MBA graduates
Brought to you be QS Online MBA events. The last twelve months have brought high levels of business uncertainty, affecting the ability of businesses to forecast and make hiring decisions. Unemployment in Switzerland has risen, especially among younger workers. By the end of 2020 unemployment in Switzerland had reached 7.3% among those aged 15-24 and […]
Nearly three quarters of Swiss university students have side jobs, finds study
A study published by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office found that 73% of students in tertiary education did paid work alongside their studies. The study, which took place in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic, also looked at how students spend their time, where they live and how they finance their studies. Roughly three-quarters (73%) of students […]
Former Swiss army boss supports compulsory military or civil service for Swiss women
Currently, all able bodied Swiss men must serve in Switzerland’s military or spend time doing civil service. The obligation begins at the age of 18. However, the obligation only applies to men. Women can serve but are not required to. An initiative (servicecitoyen.ch), which is planned for 2021, aims to replace the existing system with […]
Fribourg raises smoking age to 18, including for e-cigarettes
This week, the government of the canton of Fribourg decided to raise the smoking age from 16 to 18 across the canton, according to RTS. Research suggests that 57% of smokers start before the age of 18. The hope is that if tobacco is less accessible to young people fewer will end up with a […]
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 […]
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 […]
Swiss lose interest in healthy eating and exercise
A recent poll conducted by GFS.bern suggests Swiss are becoming less interested in nutrition and exercise. While a majority (77%) still say they are fairly or very interested in nutrition and exercise, the percentage saying they were very interested fell from 41% in 2014 to 27% in 2020. Over the same period, the percentage saying […]
Referendum: Swiss to vote on two weeks paternity leave
On 27 September 2020, Swiss voters have many decisions to make. The list of referenda is long and includes decisions on fighter jets, ending the free movement of people between Switzerland and the EU, hunting and tax deductions for child care. Another is a decision on whether to accept a proposal to grant fathers two […]
Is ventilation in Swiss schools good enough to reduce the spread of Covid-19?
As pupils across Switzerland soon start returning to school, some might wonder how well ventilated school classrooms are. A study published by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) in 2019 estimates that the air quality in two thirds of Swiss classrooms was inadequate. The study, which ran over two years, sampled the air quality […]
