Across all of Switzerland, 17.3% of Swiss over 15 have more than one nationality. However in Geneva, the figure (45.0%) is close to half. No other Swiss canton comes close. The next highest are Ticino (29.2%), Vaud (27.6%) and Neuchâtel (26.7%). The German-speaking cantons of Basel-City (23.8%), Zurich (20.5%) and Zug (15.3%) are next. Of […]
Geneva border crossing offers fast lane to those sharing a ride
Cars with more than one person in them crossing into Geneva via the customs post at Thônex-Vallard now have a lane reserved for them, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève. A special lane, reserved for cars carrying multiple passengers, is in place from 6:00 to 9:00am and 3:30 to 6:30pm. In the morning the […]
Geneva – minimum school leaving age raised to 18
Starting this school year, young people in Geneva must stay in the education system until the day they turn 18. The old minimum leaving age was 15. The move is the result of a popular vote in October 2012 when 54.1% voted in favour of changes to the canton’s constitution containing the plan. The aim is […]
Zurich and Geneva make Europe’s top 5 most livable cities
This year the world’s most livable city was Vienna, which knocked Melbourne, the leader for seven years, off its top spot. The annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit looks at 140 cities around the world. Zurich and Geneva both rose in the 2018 global ranking. Zurich from 15th to 11th place, and Geneva from 18th […]
Geneva set to vote on maintaining public spending in the face of company tax reform
An initiative entitled: zero losses, was filed this week in Geneva. It aims to ring fence current public spending in the face of future company tax reform. The initiative gathered 9,147 signatures, more than the 7,840 required. Under pressure from the OECD and the EU, Switzerland is being forced to make major changes to its tax […]
Swiss air traffic control strike cancelled
An air traffic control strike scheduled for 23 July 2018, has been cancelled, according to RTS. The air traffic control union Skycontrol and Skyguide, the company that employs air traffic controllers at airports in Geneva, Sion, Bern and Lugano, restarted talks on Tuesday with help from CRCT, the canton of Geneva’s labour relations organisation. In […]
Geneva – vote to challenge new laws some deem discriminatory
In April 2018, the government of Geneva introduced rules designed to protect religious freedom and preserve religious peace, known as laïcité, or secularity, laws. Laïcité is enshrined in article 3 of Geneva’s constitution, which requires the state to be secular and separate from religion. In Switzerland, religion is a cantonal matter. Geneva’s parliament voted 63 […]
Geneva set to vote on world’s highest minimum wage
In May 2014, Switzerland voted against a minimum wage of CHF 22 an hour. At some point voters in the canton of Geneva will get to vote on a similar initiative, which would apply only in the canton. Similar to the federal vote, which was rejected by 76.3% of Swiss voters, the plan calls for […]
Geneva – “Stop cross-border worker” initiative falls before start line
An initiative, designed to end the “influx” of cross-border workers into Geneva, has failed to get enough signatures. In Switzerland, changes to the constitution or law can be presented to voters if enough signatures can be collected. Votes can be organized at commune, canton and federal levels. In Geneva, cantonal initiatives aimed at changing the […]
Pope’s visit to Geneva could create 1 million franc deficit
The Pope’s 21 June 2018 visit to Geneva is expected to cost CHF 2.2 million, according to RTS. These costs, which are spread over the rental of the venue and security, must be covered by the host diocese. Given the Vatican’s late announcement of the visit (in March 2018), local church leaders were not given […]
