On average each resident of Switzerland leaves 95 kg of plastic waste behind them in a year, according to a report by Oceancare. This figure places Switzerland ahead Germany, Austria, France and Italy, reported RTS. Oceancare used 2010 statistics from Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment to compile the data. Ewoud Lauwerier, one of the […]
Public funding of WEF security angers critics
The World Economic Forum (WEF), an exclusive gathering of wealthy folks dropping in on private jets is viewed by many as out of touch with the key challenges currently faced by the global population. Swiss critics of the event are angered that an event closed to the public is provided with publicly funded security, reported […]
Referendum against Swiss climate change programme to test environment minister
This week, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) announced it had collected enough signatures to launch a referendum to reject the government’s plan for reducing carbon emissions. The initiative puts Albert Rösti, Switzerland’s new environment minister, in a difficult position as a member of the party behind the future vote. On 9 January 2023, the party […]
Cantons caught short by Swiss National Bank losses
On 9 January 2023, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced it had made a loss of CHF 132 billion over the course of 2022. Despite the near certainty of the losses and the resulting absence of SNB payments to cantons, a number of cantons included the extra revenue in their budgets, reported RTS. The SNB […]
Swiss unemployment lowest in 20 years
On 9 January 2023, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published the latest figures for the Swiss labor market in 2022 showing unemployment at its lowest rate for 20 years. 2022 saw the development of a labour market increasingly characterised by a shortage of workers and an unemployment rate of 2.1%, said SECO. The […]
Switzerland’s worker shortage putting pressure on unemployed to change career
By international standards, unemployment payments are generous in Switzerland – typically 70% of salary. But they come with strict requirements for recipients to show they are engaging in actions deemed necessary to find work. With record numbers of unfilled jobs, pressure is now being put on some to change career, reported RTS. According to one […]
Switzerland joins UN Security Council for first time
On 3 January 2023, Switzerland began its first term as a member of the UN Security Council in New York, a position it will hold until the end of 2024. After a UN vote in June 2022, Switzerland was elected to the position after 10 years of preparation. Over the years there has been significant […]
Swiss ski resorts suffering from a lack of snow
After a good covering of snow following a cold snap in early December 2022, the snow gods went on strike. Since then very little snow has fallen in the Alps. In addition, word has spread fast via social media, something that could have an impact on resort tourist numbers. A report by RTS, discusses the […]
Swiss rents and property prices up in 2022
A sharp rise in rent in December 2022 (+1.1%) left the average Swiss rent 4.3% higher than at the beginning of 2022, according to the Swiss Real Estate Offer Index, published on 4 January 2023 by SMG Swiss Marketplace Group. This annual jump of 4.3% exceeds the annual CPI increase of 2.8% announced this week. […]
No money likely from the Swiss central bank in 2023
In good years the Swiss National Bank (SNB) distributes a portion of its profits to a number cantonal tax authorities, boosting their income. However, there will likely be no payments in 2023, reported the newspaper 20 Minutes. When the SNB was trying to moderate the rise of the franc it bought large quantities of assets […]
