Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

Since the beginning of the year, a new step has been added to buying fresh fruit and vegetables in Swiss supermarkets. Previously, the produce went on the scales, the relevant number was entered, a button pushed, and a price sticker produced. Now there’s an extra step: a bag choice must be made. What is going on? Swiss broadcaster RTS asked some supermarket customers about the change. Most seemed slightly confused by the question and thought the change might be an ecological initiative aimed at reducing the use of single-use paper and plastic bags. More attentive customers could quickly rule out…

Swiss authorities have been working hard to get more Ukrainian refugees off welfare and into work. They set a target of 40% by the end of 2024. However, their efforts have come up short. Only 29% of those of working age are in work, according to the latest data. This figure stands in contrast to the Czech Republic where the rate is 75%. When Czech president Petr Pavel visited Switzerland late last year he said that perhaps working in Switzerland might be too unattractive and the welfare system too generous. Perhaps. But there are many other reasons for the difference,…

Since 2015, around 11,000 public car park spaces have been removed in cities and large towns across Switzerland, according to recent analysis reported by Tages Anzeiger. More than 3,000 parking places have been removed in both Geneva and in Zurich, more than 2,500 in Lausanne, nearly 1,500 in Basel and around 1,300 in Bern. Cities in French-speaking Switzerland have seen the greatest decline in percentage terms. Geneva and Lausanne have both seen more than 10% of their public parking spaces removed since 2015. Geneva has lost 13% and plans to take away a further 12,000 places by 2034. Lausanne has…

Swiss broadcaster RTS recently had 13 brands of bottled water sold in Switzerland tested for trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). 10 of the 13 tested positive. TFA is widely used in the pesticide, pharmaceutical and electronics industries. TFA belongs to a family of chemicals known as PFAS, chemicals that take a very long time to break down, which are often referred to as forever chemicals. Of the 13 bottled waters tested, only Cristallo, Denner and Saskia brands contained less than the 0.1 micrograms per litre testable limit. The other 10 all had detectable levels of TFA. Aquata, Evian and Saguaro had concentrations…

Every year, Switzerland’s Federal Council publishes a photograph reflecting the theme for the year, which is chosen by the new president. This year’s theme is the unique character of Swiss democracy. Photographer Arthur Gamsa took photos of people across Switzerland and used them to create a mosaic of more than 1,000 faces. This mosaic forms the backdrop of the 2025 image of Switzerland’s seven Federal Councillors, who make up the country’s executive team. To create the mosaic of faces, the photographer approached people in the street and photographed at least 40 people in each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, collecting a…

Currently, it is impossible for individuals to legally escape their debts in Switzerland, even when they have no chance of ever paying them back. Some find themselves trapped in debt for the rest of their lives. This week, the Federal Council unveiled a new legal procedure that will offer some heavily indebted people a second chance, reported RTS. As an increasing number of people in Switzerland find themselves stuck in a debt trap, political pressure has mounted to find a solution. One study estimates that around 6% of the population have defaulted on a debt, which can be the beginning…

Last year, Switzerland sent more than 7,000 asylum seekers back to their country of origin, which is around 18% more than the year before, reported RTS. The figure was revealed by Beat Jans, the Swiss minister in charge of asylum, in conversations at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week. With a rate of nearly 60% Switzerland probably holds the European record for returning failed asylum seekers. Asked how Switzerland has achieved the high rate, Jans put forward a number of reasons. Pressure on Switzerland’s cantons to increase the number was one. Another was the hard work done…

Every year, motorists in Switzerland must pay CHF 40 francs if they want to drive on the nations federal motorways – this map shows the routes. There is a physical sticker and an electronic version. The electronic version has led to a number of unofficial online sellers, which add a fee. Those wishing to purchase an electronic vignette can avoid these fees by going to the official website. The vignette, which covers the calendar year, must be bought by the end of January. It is also valid one month in advance, so a vignette for 2025 can be bought from…

Electricity prices in Switzerland are set for a shake up. Prices paid for electricity put into the grid are falling fast in some parts of the country, reported RTS. From 2026, these prices will be adjusted every quarter, rather than once a year. This will add further uncertainty to prices and the investment case for solar panels. The changes flow from a new set of laws accepted in a referendum in June 2024. The new law will in many cases usher in lower prices for electricity injected into the grid by those with solar panels. For some this may make…

On 9 February 2025, Swiss voters will be asked to decide whether to accept the Environmental Responsibility Initiative. The initiative sets highly ambitious limits to emissions and the consumption of natural resources, defined as planetary boundaries, to be reached within 10 years. There is no detail on how these limits will be reached – see initiative text here. The Federal Council rejects the initiative, viewing it as a step too far that would bring new bans and restrictions for the economy and the population. Based on a study, the Federal Council said Switzerland would need to reduce its overall environmental…