Foundation to help Swissair workers

Swissair workers will get some welcome financial assistance Keystone

A new foundation is offering financial help to former Swissair Group employees after the collapse of the aviation conglomerate.

The foundation, set up at the instigation of Jean-Luc Nordmann at the state secretariat for economic affairs, will offer aid not only to former employees but also to subcontractors who are struggling because of the collapse.

A further aim of the foundation is to prevent those with financial problems from having to ask for state assistance.

The state secretariat for economic affairs says several companies and private individuals have already said they are ready to contribute to the fund and it’s hoped their contributions will be tax-deductible.

An account is to be opened at the Zurich Invest Bank.

A tripartite commission with representatives from the employer, employees and the canton of Zurich will choose the beneficiaries.

The members of the commission have been named: Matthias Mölleney, the head of personnel at the Swissair Group, Hans-Peter Burkhard, the head of economic development for the canton of Zurich and Susanne Erdös, who will represent the claimants.

swissinfo with agencies