Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

Health-insurance premiums and immigration remain the two biggest political concerns for Swiss voters, though both are less prevalent than last year, according to the latest SSR electoral barometer. Relations with the European Union, housing shortages and the economy have gained ground. Health costs top the list of challenges, cited by 40% of respondents. Immigration follows with 27%, the same share as EU relations and climate change. Asylum policy comes close behind at 26%. A year ago half of voters flagged premiums as the main issue; now only four in ten do. Immigration has also eased, from 33% to 27%. By…

The number of mountain-hiking accidents in Switzerland has doubled in the past 15 years, according to new data from Suva, the national accident insurer. Between 2009 and 2013, just over 4,000 incidents were recorded annually. From 2019 to 2023, that figure rose to around 9,000 a year. More than eight in ten accidents involved hikers tripping, slipping, or falling. Suva attributes the rise partly to unsuitable equipment, inattention and overestimation of one’s physical condition. It advises hikers to plan their routes carefully, check the weather and choose trails appropriate to their fitness levels. Between June and September this year, around…

Switzerland’s Federal Council has warned that a proposal by the Young Socialists could lead to substantial tax losses and drive wealthy residents abroad, reported RTS. On Monday, it launched its campaign against the “For the Future” initiative, which will go to a vote on 30 November 2025. The initiative, officially titled “For a socially just climate policy financed through fair taxation”, calls for a 50% levy on inheritances and donations exceeding CHF 50 million. The proceeds would fund climate measures. The initiators estimate the tax would generate around six billion francs annually—two-thirds for the federal government and one-third for the…

Young adults in Switzerland are staying longer in the family home. Half of the population now leaves their parents’ household at an average age of 23.7, almost two years later than previous generations, according to figures published on Monday by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The study compared people born between 1988 and 2007 with those born between 1968 and 1987. The gap is widest at age 20: only 19% of young adults in the younger cohort had moved out by then, compared with 30% among their elders. By age 30, the difference narrows. Most young Swiss leave home between…

For many people across the United Kingdom, the security of a monthly salary provides comfort and predictability. Yet, even with steady income, financial peace of mind is not guaranteed. Rising living costs, inflation, housing expenses, and increasing financial responsibilities mean that a regular pay cheque can vanish faster than expected. Developing smart money habits is therefore essential—not only for meeting short-term needs but also for building long-term financial resilience. This guide explores practical, realistic financial habits every salaried employee in the UK should cultivate. From managing monthly budgets to planning pensions, paying taxes efficiently, and investing wisely, these strategies can…

Around 15% of Switzerland’s population aged between 16 and 65—some 844,000 people—struggle with reading, writing, numeracy and basic problem-solving. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), drawing on OECD data, these adults tend to earn less, participate less in the workforce and report lower levels of well-being and social engagement than those with stronger skills. Among adults with low proficiency, 46% have no education beyond compulsory schooling, and they are half as likely as the average person to have pursued further training in the past five years. More than half (56%) are aged between 46 and 65. They are also…

Were the votes held at the start of October, Switzerland’s proposed inheritance tax would have failed. Support and opposition to compulsory community service, meanwhile, remain neck and neck, according to a recent poll. On November 30th 2025, Swiss voters will decide on two federal initiatives. The first, the Inheritance Tax Initiative, would introduce a levy a 50% tax on estates and gifts exceeding CHF 50 million, with the proceeds earmarked for climate projects. The second, the Citizen Service Initiative, would make public service compulsory for all Swiss citizens, a more inclusive system than the current one that is compulsory only…

More than 25,000 animals were abandoned in Switzerland in 2024, according to the Swiss Animal Protection Society (PSA), which warns of a worrying rise in the number of pets left behind. The charity recorded 32,079 animals taken in by shelters last year, 572 more than in 2023. Of these, 25,403 were abandoned, 5,449 were found, and 1,234 were seized in official interventions. The increase was broad-based. Cats saw the sharpest rise, with 7,963 taken in, up 357 year on year. Numbers of rodents and rabbits also climbed to 2,047, up 219. Fish remain by far the most frequently abandoned species:…

Switzerland has put Cargo Sous Terrain, an ambitious scheme to move freight through underground tunnels, on ice, reported SRF. The federal government, several cantons and the city of Zurich have suspended work on the project, citing unmet requirements. The idea was bold. A privately financed network of subterranean tunnels, backed by blue-chip firms including Coop, Migros, Swisscom and Swiss Post, promised to cut heavy lorry traffic on motorways by up to 40%. But at the start of September the company behind it admitted the sums no longer added up under current legal requirements. The vision was compelling: trucks off the…

Switzerland plans to double the length of motorway sections where speed can be cut to 80km/h during heavy traffic, reported Blick. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) says almost 2,200km will eventually be equipped with electronic signs to lower limits temporarily, up from around 1,000km today. Officials argue that easing off the accelerator keeps traffic flowing. Our studies show that temporarily reducing speed when roads are overloaded helps the flow, says Lorenzo Quolantoni, FEDRO spokesman. Similar systems are already in place on some Swiss motorways. Not everyone is convinced. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) describes the plan as the sneaky…