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Switzerland heading towards full employment

This content was published on Apr 7, 2000 Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1992. The economics ministry said the rate fell last month from 2.4 per cent in February to 2.3 per cent, with white-collar industry showing the biggest growth. The employment office in the ministry’s state secretariat said it now expects the average for this year to drop to…

Electricity liberalisation poses safety threat at nuclear plants

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 The energy ministry has warned that the planned liberalisation of the country’s electricity market could lead to cost-cutting measures affecting nuclear safety. The office for nuclear security said it expected power suppliers to cut costs in order to become more competitive. At its annual meeting, the director of the office, Wolfgang Jeschki, said it would…

Seasonal workers from ex-Yugoslavia granted annual permits

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 A group of 179 seasonal workers from the former Yugoslavia have won their right to remain in this country beyond the end of May, after being granted annual work permits by the canton of Vaud. The exceptional move brings to an end a three-year legal battle, and puts the men in a position to bring…

Saurer dips into the red

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 The Swiss textile machinery and automotive component maker, Saurer, has seen its profit for last year swing into the red. The troubled group reveals a loss of SFr70 million in 1999, which compares to a profit of SFr87 million in the previous year. Saurer said it was undermined by the sharp drop in sales and…

Environment feared loser in Olympic bid

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 Swiss environmental organisations have harshly criticised canton Graubünden’s bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The groups, including the Swiss branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature and Pro Natura, said most of the required infrastructure would have to be built for the games, despite claims to the contrary by the organisers. They said previous…

Farmers to reap harvest if EU accords approved

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 A Swiss farming lobby has recommended approval of a series of bilateral accords with the European Union, which will be voted on in a referendum next month. The lobby said the agreement to liberalise the agricultural sector would give Swiss farmers greater access to European markets. The deal will eliminate import duties altogether on some…

Swiss holidays for war-children

This content was published on Apr 6, 2000 The Swiss president, Adolf Ogi, has outlined his plans to invite 100 children from Bosnia and Kosovo for a 2 week summer holiday in Switzerland. The project aims to offer some of the children worst affected by conflict a chance to recuperate in the Swiss countryside. Adolf Ogi has strong memories of the war-traumatised child…

Zurich reveals plans to reinvent itself after posting record profits

This content was published on Apr 5, 2000 The Zurich Financial Services Group has announced an “excellent result” for 1999, with net profit up by nearly 16 per cent to a record SFr5.4 billion (US$3.26 billion). The group, which was created in September 1998 through the merger of the Zurich Group and the financial services business of Britain’s B.A.T. Industries, said Wednesday it…

EU adopts Swiss BSE test

This content was published on Apr 5, 2000 The European Union has decided to adopt a Swiss test as one of the three it will use in its fight against the cattle disease, BSE. The test, developed by the University of Zurich’s spin-off company Prionics, uses prion protein analysis to detect the disease in dead animals. Switzerland has been using the test since…

Swiss clean air bid

This content was published on Apr 5, 2000 The cabinet has announced the introduction of a new law aimed at cutting the levels of carbon dioxide. The law will bring Switzerland into line with targets for CO2 reduction adopted by the 1996 convention on climate change in Kyoto, Japan. The new legislation aims to cut CO2 emissions by 10 per cent of their…

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Internal: Archive

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Switzerland heading towards full employment

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Electricity liberalisation poses safety threat at nuclear plants

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Seasonal workers from ex-Yugoslavia granted annual permits

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Saurer dips into the red

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Environment feared loser in Olympic bid

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Farmers to reap harvest if EU accords approved

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Swiss holidays for war-children

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Zurich reveals plans to reinvent itself after posting record profits

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EU adopts Swiss BSE test

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Swiss clean air bid

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