Dersim Avdar came to Switzerland as a refugee 22 years ago. After completing a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the University of St. Gallen, including studies in Madrid and Beijing, he now works in the investment industry in Zurich. Evangeline de Macedo interviewed him to get his story. When did you come to Switzerland? […]
Illegal resident requests right to stay in Switzerland after taking aggressor to court
Tribune de Genève. On Wednesday, the government of Geneva received a request for a pardon. Last summer, a 46 year old Bolivian woman, living illegally in Switzerland, went to court after she was assaulted in a bar in Geneva. The woman, who was badly hurt on the face with broken glass, won her case and her […]
Swiss to avoid EU clash as immigration bill passes final hurdle
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. After three years of uncertainty, Switzerland may just have solved its immigration dispute with the European Union. Lawmakers in Bern on Friday passed a bill designed to curb EU immigration by giving locals a head start on filling job vacancies. By supporting the measure — which sidesteps quotas — […]
Swiss EU immigration – unfortunately there is no plan B, says president in interview
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Switzerland’s plan to solve an immigration dilemma with the European Union could avoid being held up by another referendum if it gets strong support in parliament next week, according to Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann. A clear result in a final vote on Dec. 16 with the Swiss People’s Party, […]
Swiss states council backs plan to force employers to interview unemployed locals before hiring foreigners
Before employing foreigners employers must first interview unemployed locals and justify why they did not employ them. This is the essence of a proposal to tighten immigration, which was approved yesterday by Switzerland’s upper house, known as the Council of States. The plan would affect employers taking on staff in occupations or professions with above […]
Swiss commune that paid to avoid taking refugees does u-turn
20 Minutes. Oberwil-Lieli, a commune in the canton of Aargau, that decided in June 2016 to pay CHF 290,000 to avoid taking refugees, has now decided to offer accommodation to a christian family of five from Syria, that has been given provisional entry. The accommodation will be offered from 1 January 2017. The town’s council has […]
Swiss government announces more checks on foreign workers
Yesterday, the Swiss government said it would step up checks on foreign workers. The new plans are designed to increase the effectiveness of controls and include more funding and better training for those tasked with the job. The number of checks is expected to rise 30% from 27,000 to 35,000 per year. 7-step guide to […]
Two parents working sharply reduces risk of child poverty in Switzerland
A recent publication by the Swiss federal statistics office shows there were around 73,000 children suffering from poverty in Switzerland in 2014. Poverty is defined by depravation calculated based on responses to a list of 18 questions1. These responses are used to determine actual poverty and the risk of poverty. Overall Swiss child poverty rates […]
Swiss towns want to ban the distribution of the Quran
Le Matin. According to Le Matin, recent German government action against salafistes is pushing the Swiss authorities to act. According to Tages Anzeiger, some Swiss towns have already taken action. The town of Brugg in the canton of Aargau banned distribution of the Quran in 2012. “It seems that radical islamists were behind it” explained the town’s […]
First refugees from Greece arrive in Switzerland
Tribune de Genève. Switzerland welcomes the first 28 refugees from Greece, as part of the EU programme to resettle refugees across nations party to the EU agreement on refugees, known as the Dublin Regulation. According to Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), they were moved from Greece to Switzerland late last week. 112 asylum seekers from […]
