Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

This week, Switzerland’s National Council (parliament) approved a new framework for supporting childcare through an allowance scheme targeting parents with children up to the age of eight, reported RTS. While the proposal largely mirrors the version endorsed by the Council of States, notable differences remain—chiefly regarding the role of the federal government. Under the plan, the allowance would be funded jointly by cantons and employers to ease the financial burden on working parents using formal childcare facilities, such as nurseries or after-school programmes. The scheme would also cover parents in education or vocational training, even if they are not formally…

Many mistake Switzerland as a nation of polyglots who speak all of the nation’s three main languages fluently. However, German won’t get a visitor very far in Geneva and nor will French in Zurich. At the same time a political imperative to raise multilingualism remains widespread. This week, the closure of an experimental bilingual school in Bern was decried by some as a step backwards, reported SRF. Since 2019, select schools in Bern have offered classes taught equally in German and French, reflecting the canton’s bilingual identity and the city’s role as the federal city. But in a move announced…

This week, Germany’s new government announced a sharp tightening of its immigration policy, reported RTS. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt declared that most undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, would be denied entry, with the exception of vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. The plan also includes expanded border controls. Switzerland, which shares over 360km of border with Germany, swiftly denounced the unilateral and illegal move. The policy marks a reversal of Germany’s approach during the 2015 refugee crisis, when asylum seekers were broadly permitted to cross the border. The announcement follows months of domestic political pressure, particularly…

A proposed revision to Switzerland’s digital surveillance regulations has met with broad political and industry backlash, reported RTS. Critics say the draft, put forward by the Federal Council, threatens data privacy, allows disproportionate state intervention, and could undermine the country’s reputation as an innovation hub. In a consultation process that concluded on Tuesday, parties across the political spectrum—including the Greens, Socialists, Liberal Greens, PLR/FDP, and the UDC/SVP—voiced opposition. They argue that the plan lacks clarity, contravenes existing law, and could have chilling effects on digital enterprise. The Centre Party declined to take a position. Industry and civil society groups were…

Switzerland relies heavily on it’s neighbours to keep its lights on and its electricity supply remains exposed to uncertainty, according to the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom). In a press briefing on Thursday, the regulator warned that electricity reserves will continue to be necessary in the medium term, despite a broadly secure outlook for the coming winter. While ElCom expects supply security to be maintained through winter 2025, risks persist—chiefly around import capacity, the pace of renewable energy development, and the trajectory of domestic consumption. Volatile gas markets, fragile European storage levels, and geopolitical instability also continue to cloud the continent’s…

Switzerland is often seen as a magnet for foreigners. Far less attention is paid to the large number that leave every year. In a typical year, roughly 90,000 foreign nationals leave, according to new data obtained by swissinfo.ch. Between 2013 and 2022, net migration averaged more than 60,000 a year, accounting for 85% of Switzerland’s population growth. In 2023, over 50,000 Ukrainian refugees helped push net foreign migration to a record of nearly 150,000, before falling back to around 95,000 in 2024, according to provisional data. However, this sustained net inflow masks a significant and steady outflow of people. From…

This week, the Federal Council said it favours putting its new package of agreements with the European Union to an optional referendum, requiring only a simple majority of voters—not the double majority of both voters and cantons required in a mandatory referendum, reported RTS. The decision, announced by the Federal Council on Wednesday, now passes to Parliament for final approval. Foreign minister Ignazio Cassis acknowledged that tactical considerations played a role in the cabinet’s discussions. The EU deal, he noted, might struggle to clear the hurdle of a double majority. Cassis argued that the approach ensures continuity in Swiss-EU policy.…

This week, Switzerland’s highest court has ruled that plant-based meat alternatives may no longer carry names that directly refer to animals, such as “vegan pork” or “plant-based chicken”, reported RTS. The Federal Court sided with the federal government in its appeal against a Zurich-based producer, Planted Foods, requiring it to rename several of its products. Terms describing preparation methods—such as “steak”, “sausage”, or “minced”—remain permitted. Thus, “soy sausage”, “cereal slices”, or “lentil steak” remain acceptable. The ruling overturns a previous decision by Zurich’s Administrative Court, which had rejected the cantonal food lab’s concerns and allowed the use of animal-related names.…

Switzerland recorded 1,211 cases of racial discrimination in 2024, an increase of 335 compared with the previous year, according to a report published by the country’s network of anti-racism centres. The 40% annual rise is the steepest in recent years. Most incidents occurred in schools and the number of reported cases has been climbing steadily for several years. In a joint statement, the Federal Commission against Racism (CFR) and the NGO humanrights.ch described the increase as particularly significant. Several factors are thought to be driving the trend: geopolitical tensions and increasingly polarised public discourse have likely fuelled hostility, said the…

Cargo Sous Terrain (CST), Switzerland’s long-planned underground freight network, has been in the making for more than a decade. The concept is simple: instead of clogging up roads, goods would be transported via automated wagons moving through subterranean tunnels, loaded and unloaded at designated hubs. Yet enthusiasm for the project has cooled. Last year, municipalities and cantonal governments voiced scepticism, describing CST variously as unachievable, challenging or not feasible. Soon after, CST announced delays and job cuts. The original plan had envisioned self-driving electric vehicles travelling on underground roads, charging inductively as they moved. That has been abandoned in favour…