Workplace Switzerland Archives - Page 116 of 178

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Number of cross-border commuters to Switzerland slows

This content was published on May 3, 2016 During the first three months of the year, some 360,000 people travelled every day to Switzerland for work – a 3.7% increase over the same period last year. But this is only up 0.7% on the last quarter of 2015, according to the Federal Statistical Office’s latest figures published on Tuesday. This represents the lowest…

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Former US workforce head supports basic income

This content was published on May 2, 2016 In a discussion with the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, Reich, who is now a political science professor at the University of California Berkeley, said that “technological advancements are eating away more and more good jobs”. “The development of the workforce worries me,” he said. “In the next 25 years, about half of well-paid jobs will disappear because…

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Part-time work bad for mothers’ careers, stress levels

This content was published on Apr 24, 2016 Working part-time is not only a career killer but also results in mothers being overburdened: since their partners work full-time, household chores and looking after the children fall to them, according to a study by the University of St Gallen, published in the SonntagsZeitung newspaper on Sunday. As a result, mothers are stressed at home…

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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.

A married woman fills in details as to income made domestically and internationally in a Swiss tax return

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Swiss tax burden among lowest in world

This content was published on Apr 13, 2016 People living in Switzerland shoulder one of the lowest tax burdens in the world, according to the latest OECD research.

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Employers seek to keep older workers busy

This content was published on Apr 12, 2016 “The aging population and the popular decision to limit immigration has set the Swiss economy a Herculean task,” said association president Valentin Vogt on Tuesday. He was speaking at a press conference held in conjunction with the think-tank Avenir Suisse and Swissmem, the umbrella organisation for 1,000 companies in the machine industry. “The baby boomers…

Opinion

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The American Dream remains within reach — in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 8, 2016 The American Dream is just that – a dream – for many young people in the US today.

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Survey finds older workers are more motivated, satisfied

This content was published on Mar 17, 2016 According to the EY 2016 Jobs Survey, workers in Switzerland in the over-61 age group are significantly more motivated at work than their younger colleagues.

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Labour market

This content was published on Mar 17, 2016 Unemployment is low in Switzerland, and firms frequently rely on labour from outside the country. Lured by high wages, some foreigners work illegally and assume big risks. About one in three workers in the Swiss labour market is not Swiss, with most of the foreigners being skilled Europeans who benefit from bilateral accords between Switzerland…

Workplace Switzerland

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Workplace Switzerland

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Working mums are on the rise in Switzerland

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Number of cross-border commuters to Switzerland slows

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Former US workforce head supports basic income

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Part-time work bad for mothers’ careers, stress levels

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Swiss expats discuss pensions and insurance

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Swiss tax burden among lowest in world

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Employers seek to keep older workers busy

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The American Dream remains within reach — in Switzerland

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Survey finds older workers are more motivated, satisfied

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Labour market

Popular Stories

Most Discussed