Workplace Switzerland

Alpiq slashes 450 jobs as profits drop

This content was published on Nov 4, 2011 The company said on Friday that net profit fell more than half to SFr180 million ($205 million) during the first nine months of the year. In 2011, profit was SFr421 million over the same period. Alpiq added that the market environment had deteriorated significantly in Europe over the past two years. The strong Swiss franc…

Jobs hold firm despite high profile lay-offs

This content was published on Nov 2, 2011 But economists are convinced that the Swiss economy will suffer a downturn from the end of this year lasting well into 2012, possibly even resulting in a recession. Drugs company Novartis last month announced plans to shed 1,100 jobs in Switzerland while a number of other firms have blamed the strong Swiss franc for forcing…

Unions predict more jobs immigration

This content was published on Oct 25, 2011 In an effort to open a debate on how best to handle the influx of new arrivals required by the economy, Travail Suisse put forward its position at a media conference in Bern on Tuesday. “Faced with an ageing population and a skills shortage in Switzerland, a relaxing of the admissions policy is necessary,” the…

Working for free

This content was published on Oct 25, 2011 With the time they spend working for their family and their community, volunteers contribute a big share of Swiss GDP: over 7 per cent, say the statistics. More than the banking sector, which is 6.7 per cent. But volunteers pick and choose what and who they want to help. (TSR/swissinfo.ch)

Strong franc threatens 10,000 jobs, lobby warns

This content was published on Oct 23, 2011 Hans Hess, president of Swissmem – an umbrella group for electrical and mechanical engineering companies – told the SonntagsBlick newspaper: “A reduction of two to three per cent employment is unfortunately realistic. “What that means for our industry in 2012 is a loss of 10,000 jobs. 97 per cent, or 320,000 positions would be retained,”…

Swiss unions demand new euro exchange rate

This content was published on Oct 18, 2011 They have suggested an exchange rate target of SFr1.40 to the euro in order to better protect jobs and salaries. “The speculative overvaluation of the franc is a problem for the Swiss economy,” said Unia trade union co-president Renzo Ambrosetti at a media conference in Bern on Tuesday. He noted that in the tourism and…

A visit to WorldSkills

This content was published on Oct 10, 2011 A visit to WorldSkills

Switzerland’s champion plasterer, 2011

This content was published on Oct 8, 2011 Swiss champion plasterer is a woman

Wage politics heats up on eve of negotiations

This content was published on Oct 2, 2011 Trade unions and companies look set to clash over how much money is available for next year’s pay hikes while executive remuneration remains a hot issue both in the public and political arenas. The Trade Union Federation has demanded a two to three per cent salary rise across the board for workers. Government civil servants…

Construction workers rally for a better deal

This content was published on Sep 24, 2011 Organisers said 12,000 people had marched through the city centre to a rally on the square outside the parliament building. The demonstration was called by the Unia and Syna trades unions to strengthen their position in negotiations for a nationwide labour contract. The current deal with the Swiss building entrepreneurs’ association expires at the end…

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