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After a public consultation where 84% of 4.6 million people across the EU called for an end to daylight savings, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said millions “believe that in future, summer time should be year-round, and that’s what will happen”. © Marekusz | Dreamstime.com The European Parliament said it is “crucial to maintain a unified EU time regime”. This would most likely mean Switzerland would also drop the practice, despite being outside the EU. In February 2017,...

A recent report shows only 34% of young Swiss are concerned the jobs they take will eventually disappear compared to 79% in the US, 74% in Brazil and 76% in Singapore. © Sheng Zhang | Dreamstime.com The main worry is the impact of rapid technological change. Fear levels are mirrored in the response to another question: what kind of job would you like to have? Jobs in IT and tech are viewed as extremely attractive by the vast majority of young people in the US (75%) Brazil (72%) and Singapore...

Currently, home owners in Switzerland must pay tax on fictional rent, calculated based on a home’s size and location. At the same time home owners get to deduct mortgage interest and home maintenance costs from their taxable income. © Stefano Ember | Dreamstime.com The system was designed to bring the taxation of home owners into line with that of renters. The logic is sound. Renters must pay rent out of their after tax income, while homeowners get to enjoy their their homes tax free, a kind...

In the second quarter of 2018, the number of jobs in Switzerland rose to 5.048 million, a 2.1% increase on the second quarter of 2017. © Catalin205 | Dreamstime.com Regions rising the most were Lake Geneva (+3.0%), north west Switzerland (+3.0%), central Switzerland (+2.4%) and Zurich (+2.1%). Rises in job numbers in eastern Switzerland (+1.6%), Mittelland (+1.3%) and Ticino (0%) were lower. Sectors with the highest vacancy rates were IT (4.0%), information and communications (3.1%) and...

A referendum calling for four weeks of paternity leave is currently working it’s way through the system. © Aleandr | Dreamstime.com This week, a government commission gave its verdict on the vote, recommending two weeks of paternity leave instead of the four set out in the referendum’s text. Their commission’s main concerns are centred on the impact on companies and the cost of funding it. A recent Swiss study, which looked at literature published on the effects of parental, maternity and...

Switzerland began updating its notes starting with the 50 franc note in April 2016. It then issued the new 20 franc note in May 2017, and the new 10 in October 2017. The newest note to grace Swiss wallets, pockets and purses is the 200 franc note, which was launched on 22 August 2018. Switzerland’s ninth banknote series moves away from the depiction of well-known personalities instead depicting typically Swiss characteristics. Each characteristic is communicated via an action, a Swiss...

Swiss health insurance companies are aiming to change laws to make it easier for them to unilaterally end complementary insurance contracts, according to the newspaper Le Matin. © Andrii Yalanskyi | Dreamstime.com Health insurers have managed to get this possibility included in a project aimed at revising Switzerland’s laws on insurance contracts, set for discussion by a parliamentary committee this September. If included, the changes would allow insurance companies to terminate contracts...

Recently, members of the young socialists raised the debate of the social inequalities associated with two ticket classes again while on trains travelling between Fribourg and Bern. © Justforever | Dreamstime.com They complain that at periods of peak demand second class carriages are overflowing, while first class ones often have space and spare seats. Yvan Rime, co-president of the young socialists in Fribourg told RTS that space on trains should not be a privilege only for the rich. In...

The Swiss government is looking hard to find ways to reduce the cost of health care. One idea is to make accident and emergency patients pay a CHF 50 fee before treatment. © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.com National counsellor Thomas Weibel put forward a parliamentary initiative to levy a CHF 50 charge at the time of hospital admission. The measure aims to dissuade people from going to accident and emergency with minor ailments. Hospital treatment is expensive compared to a visit to a family...

In Switzerland, pension rules make it more expensive to employ older workers. © Fizkes | Dreamstime.com The amount employers must contribute to 2nd pillar contribution-based employee pensions increases with age. Workers under 35 only cost an additional 3.5% of salary. From 55, workers cost employers an additional 9% – workers aged 35 to 44 cost employers an additional 5% and those 45 to 54 cost an extra 7.5%. The association 50 plus is calling for changes to this system, and along with others...