Switzerland Today

Hello from Bern,

September 7 is Global Talent Acquisition Day. Is it a coincidence that a major event showcasing Switzerland’s vaunted apprenticeship system has opened in the Swiss capital?

For more stories and the latest news, here’s the latest edition of our regular briefing.

© Keystone / Alessandro Della Valle

In the news: Neutrality, humanitarian traditions and electricity bills

• The Swiss government has discussed a draft report on neutrality and decided that there is no need for fundamental policy changes. It believes that the principle as defined in a previous report 30 years ago remain valid and give sufficient room for manoeuvre in crisis situations. The Swiss government’s decision to follow EU sanctions against Russia prompted renewed debates about neutrality.
• A first group of patients from Ukraine has arrived for hospital treatment in Switzerland. The five civilians suffer from serious illnesses and were flown to the university hospitals in Lausanne, Zurich and Bern on Wednesday. The government initially refused a request to take in ill and wounded people over neutrality concerns.
• Swiss households are set to see power bills rise by around 27% in 2023, with wide swings depending on municipality. That’s an average increase of CH260 per year, according to the national energy watchdog. The news came shortly before expected hefty increases in health insurance premiums and adds to rising prices for consumer products.

Keystone / Anthony Anex

Swiss apprenticeship system on display

A major event is underway in the capital Bern to showcase Switzerland’s vaunted vocational and training system. More than 1,000 apprentices are on hand to demonstrate their talents to the public and the participants in the championship compete for the title of Swiss champion in their chosen profession.

For the purpose of the five-day SwissSkills, Bern’s main exhibition centre has been transformed into a temporary “factory” of 150 profession, complete with mocked-up authentic environments.

The event is quite unique worldwide, according to spokesman Roland Hirsbrunner. “Nowhere else can so many different professions be experienced and tried out at the same location,” he told swissinfo.

Switzerland’s apprenticeship system is hold praised as “gold standard” in vocational training internationally. But perhaps paradoxically, the scheme is not quite as well regarded in some families, particularly among expats and certain professionals who want their children to attend senior high school.

Around two thirds of 15-16 year olds in Switzerland opt for an apprenticeship after leaving compulsory school.

Keystone/Martin Ruetschi

Friends of the French language up in arms

It’s all about a hotel in a remote region in French-speaking Switzerland. The Hotel du Boeuf changed hands and the new owners decided to rename it Peanut Medieval Lodge. So far, so good, you might say. Given the countless cases of a somewhat special use of English across all of Switzerland’s four language regions, this isn’t too bad.

But not everybody would agree. The president of an association for the safeguard of the French (and Italian) languages, Aurèle Challet said he was exasperated to see the language of Voltaire and Victor Hugo falling victim of “cultural vulgarity”.

“It seems that if you don’t know to write in French, you can come up with any nonsense in English,” he told the RTS public broadcaster, Challet.

The local tourist board and the residents of Saint-Ursanne don’t seem too worked up about it. But the custodians of the French-language wouldn’t have it and threatened to put up stickers in the reopened restaurant, saying “En français s’il vous plaît”.

If it’s any consolation for them, the original name Hotel du Boeuf will remain clearly visible about the main door to the building.

And as the reporter noted, not far away from the hotel, there is a bakery which has been using the typically Swiss-English word “tea-room” to attract customers to sit down for a refreshment.