Representatives of the five groups said the revised law was balanced and the planned cuts in unemployment benefits were justified to secure the future of the scheme.
Parliamentarians of the Radicals, the Christian Democrats, the Conservative Democrats, the Liberal Greens and the Swiss People’s Party warned a rejection of the reform would lead to a considerable increase in salary deductions to shore up the jobless scheme.
“Additional revenue of SFr650 million ($620 million) and spending cuts of SFr620 million will help reduce the debts and avoid further deficits,” said Urs Hany, a Christian Democrat, on Monday.
The centre-left Social Democrats and trade unions which are forcing a referendum said the reform came at the expense of the younger generation and put the burden on welfare services.
They added that supporters of the reform are spending millions of francs on a campaign to secure the privileges of high-salary earners.
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Jobless benefit cuts meet strong opposition
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They gathered more than 140,000 signatures in support of a referendum against the changes – nearly three times more than are needed – which they handed in to the federal chancellery on Tuesday. “The number of signatures is a clear sign that the issue is very much on people’s minds,” said Renzo Ambrosetti of the…
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Doris Leuthard, who also heads the economics ministry, said on Friday the government considers the cost-saving measures as “required, balanced and relevant” and that voters should approve the measure at the polls on September 26. The Swiss Trade Union Federation disagrees. The group said in a statement that the proposals will lead to job losses…
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Voters will have the final say in September on a legal amendment approved by parliament and designed at resetting the balance of the insurance scheme by reducing its debts. It was a colourful group with flags, balloons and banners who handed the cardboard boxes with the necessary signatures for a nationwide vote to the federal…
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