Tag Archives: Editor’s Choice

20 Minutes. A pilot bio-monitoring project in Switzerland will measure traces of pollutants and micronutrient and endocrine disruptors in organic samples. According to 20 Minutes, the impact of certain chemical products worries the authorities. © Gyuszko | Dreamstime.com The pilot project was launched last week by the executive branch of Switzerland’s government, known as the Federal Council. Depending on the results, a nationwide project could be considered. Tests will be conducted by...

Six Swiss regions make the top ten most prosperous regions of Europe measured in terms of GDP per person, according to an analysis by the University of Lausanne. Zurich – © Europhotos | Dreamstime.com The six Swiss regions are Zurich (3rd), Ticino (4th), Basel (5th), the region around Zug (6th), Bern-Solothurn (7th) and Suisse romande, Switzerland French-speaking region (8th). The only regions ranked higher were Luxembourg (2nd) and the City of London (1st). The ranking is based on 2015...

20 Minutes. While a recent job advertisement placed in a Swiss newspaper is not specific on gender, it makes it very clear that it doesn’t want anyone over the age of 50, or under the age of 25. The advertisement was placed by an organisation called Bureau des Métiers in Sion. The offending advert is also on the company’s website and can be viewed here. © Joserpizarro | Dreamstime.com According to 20 Minutes, who published the story, the practice is not illegal. Legal or not, some local...

20 Minutes. While a recent job advertisement placed in a Swiss newspaper is not specific on gender, it makes it very clear that it doesn’t want anyone over the age of 50, or under the age of 25. The advertisement was placed by an organisation called Bureau des Métiers in Sion. The offending advert is also on the company’s website and can be viewed here. © Joserpizarro | Dreamstime.com According to 20 Minutes, who published the story, the practice is not illegal. Legal or not, some local...

The Swiss National Bank is the process of issuing new bank notes. A new 50 franc note hit the streets last year. Now it is the new 20 franc note’s turn. Officially launched today, it will enter circulation on 17 May 2017. A photograph of the note was posted on Facebook by Bilan: The new red note, designed around the theme of light, has a few secrets. It can be be washed without losing any of its colour, so you don’t need to worry about leaving it in your pocket. Apparently it can even...

The Swiss National Bank is the process of issuing new bank notes. A new 50 franc note hit the streets last year. Now it is the new 20 franc note’s turn. Officially launched today, it will enter circulation on 17 May 2017. A photograph of the note was posted on Facebook by Bilan: The new red note, designed around the theme of light, has a few secrets. It can be be washed without losing any of its colour, so you don’t need to worry about leaving it in your pocket. Apparently it can even...

Figures published on 9 May 2017 by SECO, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, show a fall in the number of unemployed in Switzerland. © 72soul | Dreamstime.com At the end of April 2017, there were 146,330 people registered as unemployed, 5,950 fewer than the month before, reducing the rate of unemployment from 3.4% to 3.3%. Unemployment across the French and Italian speaking regions averaged 4.3%, materially higher than in German speaking Switzerland where the rate was 2.9%. The...

Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) statistics show a decline in Swiss wine consumption in 2016. Swiss residents consumed less rosé, less white and less red wine. Lavaux Switzerland – © minnystock | Dreamstime.com Total consumption in 2016 was 253 million litres, down from 262 million litres in 2015, a drop of 4%. This follows drops of 2% in 2014 and 1% in 2015, a total decline of nearly 7% over three years. The 2016 figure equates to 40 bottles per resident. When those 19 years old...

20 Minutes. On Friday, Easyjet added a 14th aircraft to its Geneva-based fleet. The new Airbus A320 will allow it to add new destinations. © Tommy Beattie | Dreamstime.com The new aircraft will create 36 new jobs on top of the current 500 at the airline’s Geneva base, Thomas Haagensen, Easyjet’s director of northern Europe, told Le Matin Dimanche. Last year, the airline flew 900,000 more people from Switzerland than it did in 2015. Part of the growth is due to the progressive replacement of...

© Kevkhiev Yury | Dreamstime.com Le Matin. According to a recent study, employees in certain roles in Switzerland are paid around 50% more than those second-placed Luxembourg. The premium applies to recent hires, middle managers and qualified professionals, says the study conducted by Willis Tower Watson. The report, entitled Global 50 Remuneration Planning Report 2016/2017, looks at pay across 50 roles and 60 countries...