Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

After a round of referenda in June, Swiss voters will be called on in September to decide on biodiversity and a government plan to reform work-related pensions to ensure their longterm financial viability, reported RTS. On 22 September 2024, the government’s plan to cut the work-related pension annuity rate from 6.8% to 6% will be put before voters. The aim of the reform is to ensure pension fund finances can sustain the impact of longer life expectancy, which has grown without any increase in the retirement age. If pension annuities are paid for longer then they need to be smaller,…

The Gotthard pass, one of the key routes linking northern and southern Switzerland is often opened in mid-May. Last year, it was open by now. However, this year there is too much snow, reported SRF. Opening the pass before the second long weekend in May brings relief to many weary travellers. The pass provides drivers with an alternative to the heavily congested Gotthard road tunnel, which connects the canton of Uri north of the Alps with Ticino south of the Alps. The fastest way south by car remains the Gotthard road tunnel or over the San Bernardino pass via the…

According to a report published this week, 4% of drivers in Switzerland drive after drinking alcohol. However, only 0.4% have a level of alcohol at or above the legal limit. Drunk driving remains one of the greatest road safety risks in Switzerland, causing around one in every eight road accidents. In 2023, alcohol caused 506 serious injuries on Swiss roads and led to the death of 31 people, said the report published by BPA. The vast majority of those driving after drinking were over the age of 30. Only 0.1% of drivers under the age of 30 were driving over…

This week, Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court sentenced a former Gambian interior minister to 20 years in prison for multiple crimes against humanity, reported RTS. The ruling is historic. It is the first time a European court has convicted and sentenced someone for crimes committed against humanity outside Europe. Ousman Sonko came to Switzerland as an asylum seeker in 2016. Until his arrest in January 2017, he lived freely in an asylum centre in Bern. Since then he has been held in custody. Switzerland’s federal prosecutor’s office accused the ex-minister of being jointly responsible for killings, torture, rape and multiple violations…

An initiative organised by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC) to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million officially cleared the signature hurdle this week, reported SRF. The launch a popular vote or referendum in Switzerland requires 100,000 signatures. This week, 114,805 of the 114,430 signatures collected for the initiative were deemed valid by the administration, clearing the way for a vote on the plan. The initiative aims to cap Switzerland’s population at 10 million by 2050. Switzerland’s population probably recently crossed the 9 million mark. In the past the SVP/UDC has focused its pitch fairly and squarely on immigration. However, this…

Over the roughly two years since the first Ukrainian refugees began arriving in Switzerland, more than 90,000 have successfully applied for the temporary right to live in Switzerland. However, only 24% have found work. With finances tight, the federal government is aiming to save around CHF 700 million in refugee welfare payments by getting the employment rate up to 45% among this group, reported RTS. This week, Federal Councilor Beat Jans said he expects both companies and Ukrainian refugees to get behind the government’s plan, adding that Swiss bosses and human resources managers should first look for workers in Switzerland…

According to data from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), 106,957 people were registered as unemployed at the end of April 2024, 1,636 (-1.5%) fewer than in the previous month, taking the rate from 2.4% to 2.3%. However, unemployment remained higher (+0.3 percentage points) than it was at the same time in 2023. At the end of April 2024, youth unemployment (2.0%) and unemployment among those aged 50-64 (2.2%) were lower than the average (2.3%). The worst affected age group was those aged 25-49 (2.6%). People in French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland were worse affected (3.3%) than German-speakers (2.0%), men…

The recent winter season was positive for Switzerland’s mountain resort lift operators. However, the picture was mixed with low altitude resorts missing out on much of the joy, reported Switzerland’s mountain lift association this week. By the end of April 2024, the number of first-time visitors to Swiss ski areas overall was up 3% compared to the previous year, and up by 5% compared to the 5-year average. Early snow in November and December combined with late snow in April extended the season at both ends, especially at altitude. Early snow at low altitude in November and excellent weather conditions…

The population is growing exceptionally fast in Switzerland. The nation draws many migrants from the EU and takes in proportionally high numbers of refugees. Over the last 20 years, the nation’s population has risen by 20%, far more than in France (10%), Austria (12%), Italy (3%) and Germany (2%) over the same period. In addition to these large inflows of people from outside, cantons with the highest growth rates have been exporting people to other cantons, according to figures published by RTS. The main regions with the highest population growth are the Lake Geneva region, Greater Zurich, parts of central…

The number of incidents of discrimination reported in Switzerland jumped 24% to 876 cases in 2023, according to a report published by a human rights organisation helping victims of harassment and discrimination. Of the total, roughly half involved expressions of discrimination and the rest discriminatory treatment. The most common place these events occured was at school, where 181 incidents were reported. Work (124), political settings (62), home hunting (43) and job hunting (36) were the next most frequent settings. These five together accounted for roughly half of the total number of reported incidents. The most common victims were those discriminated…