According to data from comparis.ch, Switzerland’s most expensive apartments are found in Zurich, Maloja – home to Saint-Moritz, and Lavaux-Oron. One square metre will cost you CHF 12,250 (US$ 13,000) in Zurich, CHF 11,500 in Maloja and CHF 11,250 in Lavaux-Oron. Lavaux-Oron contains posh parts of Greater Lausanne, such as Lutry, and the UNESCO-listed wine terraces of Lavaux on the […]
Zug plans to drop French from school curriculum
Following in the footsteps of Thurgau, the canton of Zug is looking at a plan to remove French from the primary school curriculum. The argument is the same: language learning overload. Choosing to learn English as a second language makes sound practical sense in an increasingly global world, however in Switzerland it is not that […]
Swiss employee associations not opposed to a 60 hour week
Swiss employee associations are not opposed to a 60 hour week. Several parliamentary initiatives aim to loosen Swiss labour rules. The first aims to allow staff and employers more flexibility regarding hours worked and time off. The second aims to loosen rules on recording hours of work by managers and specialists. Another initiative aims to […]
Finding a place to rent getting easier in Switzerland
A recent Credit Suisse report, entitled: Tenants Wanted, says capital continues to flow into Swiss real estate, boosting the supply of rental properties. Against a backdrop of negative interest rates at Switzerland’s central bank, investors continue to plough money into constructing new residential properties. At the same time, declining immigration has hit the demand for […]
Three Swiss cantons demand higher foreign work visa quotas
Geneva, Zurich and Basel-City are calling for an increase in the annual work visa quotas granted by the federal government in Bern. These cantons have already exhausted the number of permits they were granted for the year. The cantons argue that they need foreign workers and the visa cap is limiting economic growth. The visa […]
Swiss feel threatened by Islam, according to survey
A survey conducted by SonntagsBlick reveals a rising fear of Islam in Switzerland. 38% of the 1,003 people surveyed say they feel threatened by Muslims in Switzerland. This percentage is more than double the 16% recorded in a similar survey in 2004. Önder Günes, a spokesperson for the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland, told Blick […]
Geneva wants more vegetarian meals in school canteens
20 Minutes. The administration of the city of Geneva wants schools to serve more vegetarian meals. Administrative councillor Esther Alder told 20 Minutes “We are receiving more and more requests, particularly from children’s parents.” While the city cannot impose rules on school canteens it hopes that all of its 47 school restaurants start to offer […]
A majority of Swiss support legalising cannabis, says survey
According to a survey, a majority of Swiss support the legalising the sale of cannabis under certain conditions. The survey, conducted by GFS Zurich for Fachverband Sucht and GREA, an association of professionals focussed on addiction, involved questioning 1,200 people by telephone. Of those surveyed, 22% had tried cannabis. The biggest variation was across age. Only 4% […]
Swiss commune fighting to have accused hate preacher expelled
20 Minutes. According to reports in the Tages-Anzeiger and by Swiss broadcaster SRF, the Swiss commune of Nidau wants the canton of Bern to expel a Libyan imam who has preached hate. The preacher has reportedly called for the destruction of all enemies of islam, including christians, jews, hindus, Russians and shiites. The man arrived in […]
A Swiss parliamentary commission wants to get rid of imputed rent
20 Minutes. In Switzerland, home owners have to add a theoretical rent to their taxable income. This means home ownership can increase your annual tax bill, sometimes substantially. For many home owners the tax effect of the theoretical or imputed rent is cancelled out by deductions for mortgage interest and home maintenance expenses, however those […]
