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Hike in postal rates blocked

The communications ministry has blocked a planned rise in the cost of postage stamps. The Post Office had wanted to introduce new tarifs for letters and parcels in July.

The communications ministry has blocked a planned rise in the cost of postage stamps. The Post Office had wanted to introduce new tarifs for letters and parcels in July.

First class stamps would have gone up from the uniform rate of SFr0.90 to between SFr1 and SFr1.50, according to weight. Second class postage was to have increased to between SFr0.80 and SFr1.30 from the current SFr0.70.

However, a statement said there would be no increases before January next year in order to give the ministry time to study the impact of VAT, which the government is expected to apply to postage stamps next year.

The Post Office has reacted angrily.

“We deplore the ministry’s decision,” a spokesman said, underlining that the Post Office would earn SFr100 million less than anticipated this year.

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