Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

Switzerland’s push to meet its climate targets is colliding with a severe housing shortage. In French-speaking regions, large-scale evictions linked to energy renovations are becoming more common, leaving hundreds of tenants scrambling for new homes, reports RTS. In Geneva, 107 tenants on Boulevard Carl-Vogt received termination notices in January, reported the broadcaster. In Lausanne, 16 families on Chemin de Monribeau were forced out last year. Landlords cite extensive energy-efficiency upgrades, which they say cannot be carried out with residents in place. The pressure will rise. To reach carbon neutrality by 2050, Switzerland must refurbish much of its building stock. In…

Switzerland’s lower house has watered down plans to improve working conditions for nurses, despite a looming staff shortage. Meeting in special session, the Swiss National Council diluted several elements of a government reform tied to the nursing-care initiative approved by voters in 2021. Lawmakers rejected a proposal to cut the maximum working week for nurses from 50 to 45 hours, defying the Federal Council, the left and the Green Liberal Party. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, the health minister, argued in vain that the change was central to staff well being and would not significantly raise costs. They also refused to boost compensation…

A planned overhaul of unemployment rules for cross-border workers in the European Union could prove costly for Switzerland. Ambassadors from EU member states have backed a change that would shift responsibility for unemployment benefits from a worker’s country of residence to the country where they were last employed. Under the current system, in place since 2004, cross-border workers in Switzerland pay into the Swiss unemployment-insurance scheme. But if they lose their job, they claim benefits in their country of residence. To balance the books, Switzerland compensates neighbouring countries—namely France, Germany, Austria and Italy—for a limited period. These reimbursements typically cover…

Switzerland could produce far more of its own food while cutting environmental damage, according to a study published late last year, which argues that eliminating inefficiencies in the food system—especially feed production and waste—would sharply raise food output. The country’s self-sufficiency rate (SSR), a measure of how many consumed calories are produced domestically, is just under 50%. Policymakers want at least to maintain it; some campaigners would like to see it pushed to 70%. The study suggests that, in theory, Switzerland could exceed 100%, producing enough food for nearly 10m people. This is not a policy target, but it shows…

A new Swiss initiative seeks to tilt travel away from planes and towards rail. Launched by actif-trafiC and backed by a coalition of campaign groups and political parties, it proposes a levy on airline tickets and private jet travel to fund public transport and expand cross-border rail links. The logic is straightforward: flying is too cheap and the price does not reflect the environmental costs. That, argues Rolf Wüstenhagen of the University of St. Gallen, distorts the market and inflates demand. The proposal would raise roughly CHF 1.5bn ($1.6bn) a year. At least two-thirds would be returned to residents as…

A proposal to ease Switzerland’s naturalisation rules has reached the Swiss National Council, Switzerland’s parliament. The so-called Democracy Initiative has already cleared the first hurdle. Backers gathered 104,782 valid signatures—comfortably above the 100,000 required—forcing a national vote. The plan would make naturalisation more administrative and less discretionary. Applicants who have lived legally in Switzerland for five years, have no serious criminal record, pose no threat to security and possess basic knowledge of a national language would, in effect, be entitled to citizenship. That would mark a sharp break with today’s system. Naturalisation is currently a three-tier affair: municipalities and cantons…

ZURICH — On May 9, a select group of global entrepreneurs, investors, and operators will gather at The Dolder Grand for the Legacy Private Capital Roundtable — Zurich, a private, invite-only event designed to explore how access, relationships, and timing shape opportunity in today’s evolving market landscape.   Hosted by Daniel Filatov, the roundtable reflects a growing shift away from traditional, large-scale conferences toward more curated, high-trust environments where meaningful connections and real-world insights take priority over mass exposure. Among the featured participants is Aarush Garg, Founder and CEO of Aarion Capital LP, whose work sits at the intersection of trading,…

Swiss trade weakened at the start of 2026. Exports fell by 4.2% in the first quarter, compared with the previous three months, to CHF 66.9bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). That is their lowest level since late 2021. There were signs of a rebound in March. Seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1% to CHF 22.4bn after a sharp fall in February. In real terms, however, they continued to decline, dropping by 3.4%. The broader picture is weak. Eight of the ten main product groups recorded falling exports. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals—by far the largest category—were…

For newcomers from much of the rest of the world, shopping in Switzerland can come as a surprise. Limited weekend trading and early closing hours have earned the country a nickname among some expatriates: “Shutzerland”. The Federal Council now wants to loosen the rules slightly, reported SRF. It supports allowing shops to open on up to 12 Sundays a year, instead of the current four. The proposal backs a draft law put forward by the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee of the Council of States. The government describes the change as “moderate”, arguing that it would give cantons more flexibility…

A parliamentary commission narrowly backed allowing the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland. By 13 votes to 12, the Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy endorsed an amendment to the nuclear energy law, reported SRF. The commission’s position aligns with the indirect counter-proposal from the Federal Council and the Council of States to the Stop Blackout initiative, which seeks to lift the current ban on building new nuclear power plants. Since the 2017 Energy Strategy, Switzerland has prohibited new nuclear plants, while allowing existing ones to operate as long as they are safe. A majority of…