From 1 January 2020, single use plastic products will be banned in the city of Geneva. Offenders will risk fines of at least CHF 100. Offering free single-use plastic bags at retail checkouts will be banned across the canton from 1 January 2020. The law enacting the ban was passed earlier in 2019 by Geneva’s […]
Number on welfare in Switzerland falls for first time in 10 years
In 2018, the number of people receiving social welfare in Switzerland fell from 278,300, or 3.3% of the population, to 272,700, 3.2% of the population. The last time the number fell was in 2008 when it dropped from 3.1% (233,500) to 2.9% (222,600) of the population. The percentage of people on welfare varies significantly by […]
French strikers vow to disrupt new cross-border train service for a long time
Early this week, the union representing French Léman Express train workers issued a press release stating that the current social conflict will be long, according to the newspaper Tribune de Gèneve. The press release concluded by stating that striking train workers are determined to turn the Léman Express into the Nothing Express. In addition to […]
Switzerland’s high prices – a European comparison
Recently published data shows how prices compare across Europe. The data, collected by Eurostat, compares prices across a number of categories of spending in 2018. Average prices across the EU-28 are used as a base. Overall, residents of Switzerland spent 59% more on the same items than an average resident of the EU-28. Switzerland was […]
Swiss visit doctor less often than most of Europe
In 2017, an average Swiss resident visited a medical professional 4.32 times, according to data recently published by Eurostat. Only residents of Denmark (4.30), Sweden (2.77) and Cyprus (2.09) went to see a doctor less often. The average number of visits across those European countries with 2017 data was 6.84. Countries with the highest frequency […]
Swiss winter holiday traffic forecast
Ahead of the holidays, Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) published its winter holiday traffic forecast. Traffic jams and slowdowns are expected on the following stretches of road: Spiez – Kandersteg Gampel – Goppenstein Brunnen – Flüelen (Axenstrasse) Rarogne – Brigue Bellinzone – Locarno The map below shows these are other stretches where progress is likely […]
Swiss government to downgrade and cut number of staff flights to reduce emissions
Switzerland’s Federal Council recently announced it aims to cut its flight emissions by 30% between now and 2030. Journeys of less than six hours will be taken by train rather than plane. In addition, staff will be required to fly in economy class rather than business class for journeys of less than 9 hours. Choosing […]
Switzerland remains second in global Human Development Index ranking
Switzerland remains second in the United Nations (UN) global Human Development Index (HDI) ranking in 2019. Switzerland ranked just behind Norway. Ireland (3rd), Germany (4th) and Hong Kong (4th) completed the top five. The HDI looks at life expectancy, mean years of schooling and per capita income – Gross National Income (GNI). In 2019, Switzerland was ranked third […]
No Federal Council seat for Switzerland’s Green Party
Switzerland’s recent federal elections delivered a shift towards parties promising to deliver environmental change. The left leaning Green Party increased its seats in the National Council, Switzerland’s federal parliament from 11 (5.5%) to 28 (14%), and the Green Liberal Party’s seat count rose from 7 (3.5%) to 16 (8%). Historically, the political make up of […]
Question of the week: what happens to failed asylum seekers in Switzerland?
A recent report by Switzerland’s federal migration commission looks at this question. Between 2008 and 2017, around 180,000 asylum seekers left Switzerland, mostly because their applications failed. Around 92,000 left in a “controlled” manner, most (80%) voluntarily with no support. The remaining 20% were given money to help them leave and resettle in their home […]
