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A basic income for all – the issue before Swiss voters

This content was published on Apr 18, 2016 The initiative, “for an unconditional basic income”External link, is rooted in debate about a two-speed society where the pay gap continues to grow. Unlike other similar initiatives, it focuses on the digital revolution and the resulting loss of traditional jobs. Supporters say giving everyone from the cradle to the grave an unconditional basic income to…

Switzerland attracts fewer firms but gains more jobs

This content was published on Apr 18, 2016 A total of 264 companies established themselves on Swiss soil in 2015 compared to 274 in 2014. But these firms created 1,082 new jobs for the country compared to 780 the year before – a respite from the steady decline over the past four years. “This reinforces the image of promoting a Swiss economy based…

Swiss debt and currency models hot topics at world finance meeting

This content was published on Apr 17, 2016 In particular, Maurer said after attending the meeting in New York that Switzerland’s debt brake – which requires federal spending to be linked to revenues in the budget process – could serve as a model for other countries. “We believe that a clear national fiscal policy is the basis for economic growth,” Maurer said. But…

Swiss expats discuss pensions and insurance

This content was published on Apr 16, 2016 Concerns about the country's old age pension scheme and health insurance coverage were high on the agenda of the most recent assembly of the Swiss Abroad Council. The delegates, meeting on the shores of Lake Lucerne, raised a series of practical problems. “Social security issues have been a recurring topic for the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), just like e-voting or problems for many expats to open a bank account in Switzerland,” said OSA co-director Ariane Rustichelli during Saturday’s meeting in Brunnen. Since a reform of the old age pension system is underway in the Swiss parliament, the expat assembly focused on a voluntary scheme for Swiss citizens living outside the European Union or the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Currently, 14,000 people from outside the EU/EFTA – or 5% of the total number – benefit from the voluntary old age pension scheme, according to the Federal Social Security Office. In giving a short history of the voluntary state pension scheme, Roberto Engeler, a leading member of the OSA, conceded flaws in the system since its beginning in the late 1940s. “Reforms of the scheme were introduced at the expense of the weakest members of society or those who temporarily live outside Switzerland and miss out on regular contributions,” he added. “The problems are increasing,” he warned and called on the government to consider possibilities for a voluntary old age pension scheme regardless of the country of residence of the Swiss expats. Reforms Jürg Brechbühl, director of the Social Security Office, said a revision of the voluntary scheme could be tackled once the mandatory state old age pension scheme was successfully reformed. Parliament agreed to overhaul the voluntary system in 2001 because of Switzerland's bilateral treaties with the EU, notably limiting the circle of beneficiaries and increasing the rate of contributions. However, Brechbühl acknowledged that efforts were necessary to improve cooperation with other countries and between the different pension systems, especially when it comes to simplifying the control mechanism. “It won’t be easy and it will take time,” he cautioned. The voluntary pension scheme ran up a deficit of CHF37 million ($38.2 million) last year, mainly because the financial payments made exceed the amount of contributions, as Brechbühl explained. Health insurance Delegates taking part in workshops at the Swiss Abroad Council also identified a series of problems with health insurance coverage. Some participants wondered why health insurance premiums for expats are so much higher than in Switzerland. Others pointed out practical problems for Swiss citizens returning to Switzerland at retirement age. There were also questions about apparent difficulties with having additional health insurance coverage or with finding specific information about insurance schemes in other countries. In response to the questions, Olivier Peters of the Federal Health Office said Switzerland’s mandatory health insurance coverage was very good compared with other countries. He assured the delegates the government had to plans to change the existing system for the Swiss living abroad. Anniversary marked On Saturday, the Swiss Abroad community also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Swiss expat square in Brunnen on Lake Lucerne. Set up in 1991, the 5,400 square metre open park site opposite the Rütli meadow is meant to show the affiliation of the Swiss Abroad to their home country. Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann opened a special exhibition of posters telling the lives of Swiss emigrants. The board of the foundation in charge of the site also awarded Swiss-Australian illustrator and author Lucienne Fontannaz-Howard a one-month grant as artist in residence.

‘Swiss Army’ chocolate has to change its name

This content was published on Apr 15, 2016 “This case gives a signal in terms of further infringements of the government’s military trademarks,” said the Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) in a statementExternal link on Friday. Armasuisse is mandated to protect the trademarks “Swiss Army”, “Swiss Military” and “Swiss Air Force”, which can be used through licencing agreements. The company, Star Trade,…

Swiss struggling to reach greenhouse gas targets

This content was published on Apr 15, 2016 The Federal Office for the Environment said it had passed its greenhouse gas inventoryExternal link for 2014 to the United Nations climate change secretariat on Friday. Emissions totalled 48.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalentExternal link – five million fewer than the basis year 1990 and 3.9 million fewer than 2013. The environment office said…

The tricky task of being an election observer

This content was published on Apr 15, 2016 “Such a system might work best in a modern society and in a small country,” Kiener Nellen says. “But it comes with a price.” History has shown that it served Switzerland through good times and bad and helped integrate minorities, be they linguistic, religious or social, she says. “It certainly took a while to develop…

Gadgets and gizmos on show in Geneva

This content was published on Apr 15, 2016 More than 750 exhibitors from 48 countries are gathered in Geneva this week for the world’s largest inventors’s fair dedicated to new creations. The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva takes place from April 13-17 at the Palexpo exhibition centre near the airport. (Photos: Dahai Shao, Xudong Yang, Ester Unterfinger)

Solar Impulse 2 ready to continue world tour

This content was published on Apr 14, 2016 The Swiss solar plane Solar Impulse 2 is now in ‘mission mode’ in anticipation of taking off for North America from Hawaii where it had been grounded since July 2015.

First images from Swiss camera on Mars orbiter

This content was published on Apr 14, 2016 The TGO was launched exactly a month ago from Kazakhstan and is expected to reach Mars’ orbit in October 2016. The images taken by Swiss-made CaSSIS (Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System) will allow researchers to take high-resolution, colour pictures of the surface and topography of Mars in 3D. It was first activated on April…

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