State pension fails to inspire public confidence
Public confidence in the state pension scheme is waning, according to a new study by the finance ministry. Young people in particular are increasingly sceptical that the state will be able to provide for them in retirement.
The study of 1,031 people suggests that Switzerland’s politicians will have to work hard to convince voters that the state pension will continue to provide a safety net.
The results come as the debate over pensions has been hotting up, with parliamentarians from all sides calling for action to prop up the pension scheme.
On Monday the leader of Switzerland’s centre-right Radical Party, Franz Steinegger, suggested that if the Swiss people were not prepared to accept a rise in Value Added Tax, the retirement age should be increased to 66 or 67 to take some of the pressure off an increasing stretched pension scheme.
Other proposals have included using money from the sale of some of Switzerland’s excess gold reserves to prevent a shortfall.
The study found that 38 per cent of Swiss are positive about the state pension – a rise of three per cent over last year. However, almost half of those surveyed said they did not believe the pension scheme would provide for their retirement.
The survey also included questions about banking secrecy. Some 68 per cent of respondents said they approved of the practice, which is a five per cent drop compared to last year.
The results will hearten the government, which is resisting pressure from the European Union to do away with banking secrecy.
swissinfo with agencies
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.