Against the wishes of the Federal Council, Switzerland’s upper house, the Council of States, rejected a plan to prevent people from withdrawing lump sums from their 2nd Pillar pensions, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève. Last week, the Council of States voted 25 to 15 to reject the plan. The Federal Council thinks forcing […]
Switzerland loses a newspaper
Born as the La Tribune de Lausanne in 1893, the newspaper Le Matin, will roll off printing presses for the last time on 21 July this year, announced its owner Tamedia today. The newspaper, which lost CHF 6.3 million last year, will lay off 41 staff and continue as a digital publication. Over the last decade the paper […]
Swiss unemployment continues to fall
The number of registered unemployed in Switzerland dropped by 9% in May 2018 to a rate of 2.4%, down from 2.7% in April, according to a report by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The rate in May 2018 was 22% lower than in May 2017. Switzerland’s unemployment hasn’t been this low since 2008. […]
Nestlé plans to move 580 jobs out of Switzerland
Last week, Nestlé announced plans to cut its Swiss workforce by 580. The plans involve restructuring its IT department, with a focus on extending its technology hub in Spain. Over the next 18 months, this re-organization could lead to a reduction of up to 500 IT positions in Switzerland, said the company. A source close […]
British man shows challenges of getting Swiss citizenship
A British man who has lived most of his life in Switzerland missed out on Swiss citizenship recently when he failed his citizenship test. Anyone with children in the Swiss school system will know how tough Swiss marking can be. 94% does not get you the top grade of 6 in a school test. It […]
Plastic attacks hit Swiss supermarkets
Shoppers across Switzerland have started dumping plastic wrapping at supermarkets in protest at what they see as excessive plastic packaging. The practice, which started in at a Tesco in Keynsham near Bristol in the UK in March – see video below, has spread around the world. Groups, such as Naries, the association behind a plastic […]
Geneva airport advises against travel on 21 June
On 21 June 2018, the pope will be at the Palexpo convention centre next to Geneva Airport. Because of this and the security accompanying it the airport warns that “access to the airport is not guaranteed” and recommends avoiding it unless absolutely necessary. The airport says that road access and parking will be very heavily […]
Swiss vote to block unauthorized gambling websites set to pass
A vote on 10 June 2018 on a plan to shake up gambling in Switzerland has widespread support, according to a recent poll run by gfs.bern and reported by RTS. The plan aims to update existing laws on gambling in Switzerland. Among the changes are the removal of taxation on winnings up to one million […]
No relief for Swiss renters
Every three months the rate of interest used to set Swiss rents is reviewed. If it goes down some renters have the right to request a decrease in rent. This time it remained at 1.50%. The last time it dropped was 1 June 2017 when it fell to its lowest level since 2008. The rate […]
House prices down in Verbier but up in some other Swiss resorts
A recent report published by UBS shows real estate price changes in european mountain resorts. Over the last year, Verbier (-3.2%) and Crans Montana (-3.0%) experienced the largest price declines, while Saas Fee (+14.3%) and St. Moritz (+7.4%) climbed the most. Prices rises in the Jungfrau region (+4.8%) Gstaad (+1.5%), Flims/Laax (+2.8%), Andermatt (+1.5%), Zermatt […]
