From 8 December 2021, anyone in Singapore treated for Covid-19 who has not been vaccinated will need to cover the cost of their own treatment. In Switzerland, similar ideas were raised by Swiss parliamentarian Kurt Fluri in July 2021 and by Mauro Poggia, Geneva’s health minister in August 2021. Covid patients not only reduce the […]
Two Swiss cities remain in top 10 most expensive globally
The latest Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey of the prices of 200 goods and services in 173 cities placed both Geneva and Zurich in the top 10 most expensive cities in 2021. Overall, the cost of living across these 173 cities has risen by an average of 3.5%, the highest inflation seen in the last […]
Swiss vote results on Covid laws, Nurses and Judges
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters voted on three federal initiatives on Covid laws, nurses working conditions and the way judges are selected. The controversial vote on Covid laws was aimed at revoking Covid laws introduced in March 2021, which include provisions allowing Switzerland’s Covid certificates to be implemented. As forecast in recent polls, the latest […]
Swiss to vote on three proposals this Sunday
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters will be asked to decide on three proposals, one of them is particularly contentious. Nursing Initiative The first is an initiative aimed at improving the working conditions of nurses. As the population ages the profession faces major challenges. In order to maintain high-quality nursing care a greater number of […]
Average Swiss household income reaches nearly 115,000 francs
The gross mean household income in Switzerland was CHF 114,984 (US$ 125,000) in 2019, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Overall, 40% of households in Switzerland had income over this mean while 60% brought in less. 73% of this income came from working, 23% came from pensions, welfare and household transfers such as alimony, […]
Numerous complaints filed against vote on Swiss Covid rules
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters will cast votes on whether to reverse some of Switzerland’s Covid laws in one of the nations most divisive votes. In the run up to the referendum, numerous complaints have been filed over how it is being handled. A number of those opposed to the government’s Covid measures are […]
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 Federal Council rejects two votes on pension reform
This week, the Federal Council rejected two very different initiatives aimed at changing the state pension system. In common with much of the developed world, Switzerland is facing a large gap between the money required to fund state pensions and the money flowing in to pay for them, a challenge driven by increasing life expectancy, […]
Switzerland’s 2022 motorway vignette unveiled
Every year Switzerland’s motorway vignette is a different colour. Next year it’s purple. Valid from 1 December 2021 until 31 January 2023, the new stickers must be displayed by anyone using Switzerland’s motorway network. The price remains the same. The motorway stickers have cost CHF 40 for 27 years. Introduced after a referendum in 1985, […]
First winter snow forecast across much of Switzerland this weekend
Snow is forecast to fall on much of Switzerland this weekend, according to various forecast services. According Swiss Meteo, snow is currently predicted to fall in Zurich, Bern and Lausanne on Friday and Saturday and in Geneva on Saturday and Sunday. While Basel is expected to get a bit on Saturday. Meteo Blue, another forecaster, […]
