Tag Archives: Editor’s Choice

The rising cost of Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance is a major political issue. The government has hatched a plan aimed at improving incentives in the hope it will reduce the seemingly never ending rise in health insurance premiums. However, a number of people sceptical of the plan’s ability to deliver the saving have organised a vote against it, which takes place this weekend. Photo by Harald Hechler on Pexels.comThe plan is focused on how various healthcare services are paid...

The rising cost of Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance is a major political issue. The government has hatched a plan aimed at improving incentives in the hope it will reduce the seemingly never ending rise in health insurance premiums. However, a number of people sceptical of the plan’s ability to deliver the saving have organised a vote against it, which takes place this weekend. Photo by Harald Hechler on Pexels.comThe plan is focused on how various...

Most people in Switzerland rent. This means the nation has strict tenancy rules, some of which are viewed as too strict by the current government. Both parliament and the Council of States have come up with two changes aimed at limiting the actions of tenants, which are considered abusive. Photo by Peter Lengacher on Pexels.comThese two votes are the result of objections to government plans rather than popular initiatives. After a plan is agreed by the government, if the public can...

On 24 November 2024, the Swiss will vote on four questions. The first is a federal government plan to invest in expanding Switzerland’s motorway network. © Thomas Stoiber | Dreamstime.comThe government’s plan aims to alleviate six motorway bottlenecks. The Federal Council points out that traffic on the nation’s highways has more than doubled since 1990 and the estimated CHF 4.9 billion investment is needed to keep the country moving efficiently. In addition, it says more motorway capacity...

Over recent weeks, mercury found in the tinned tuna sold across Europe has sparked a debate about the product. This week, RTS revealed the mercury levels of much of the tinned tuna sold in Switzerland. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Pexels.comRecent tests across Europe revealed that all of the nearly 150 brands of tuna tested contained mercury, with around 10% containing more than the legal limit of 1mg per kilogram. Tests conducted by RTS in Switzerland also...

Switzerland came second in this year’s World Digital Competitive Ranking, which ranks 67 nations across the world. Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.comThe 2024 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, produced annually by IMD, placed Singapore at the top, followed by Switzerland and Denmark. This year’s ranking is the highest for Switzerland over the eight years that the report has been published. Switzerland progressed significantly in high-tech exports (9th), e-participation...

In 2025, many wage earners will see their pay rise. However, the increases may not be sufficient to cover the rising costs, rising health insurance premiums in particular. Who will receive more pay next year? Migros and Coop, Switzerland’s two largest private employers have announced pay increases of 1% to 1.3%, reported SRF. Denner, which is part of the Migros group, has said it will boost pay by 1.1% next year. Airline Swiss, another large employer, has announced a 2% pay boost. Other...

Switzerland’s pension system has three elements. The first is a state pension linked to the number of years worked. This is funded by a tax. The second is a salary based scheme funded by salary deductions, and the third is an optional element known as the third pillar. Contributions to all of these are tax deductible, providing an economic incentive to pay into them. This week, the Federal Council announced a change to third pillar contributions, reported SRF. © Gfadel | Dreamstime.comThe...

At the beginning of the Covid pandemic there was talk of closing Switzerland’s borders. However, it was clear that Swiss hospitals and businesses near Switzerland’s borders would not function without the workers who cross the border daily to work for them, and the notion was dropped. Statistics published this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show the number of cross-border workers at record levels. © Krasnevsky | Dreamstime.comAt the end of September 2024, around 403,000...

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has started the process of issuing a new series of banknotes by launching a design competition, it announced this week. [embedded content] The new banknotes will not be issued until the early 2030s at the earliest, said the bank. The new series will be dedicated to the unique topography of Switzerland and will be launched under the theme “Switzerland and its high altitudes”. The 10-franc note will reflect Switzerland’s lowland plateau, the 20-franc note...