Workplace Switzerland

A “win-win way” to beat the financial crisis

This content was published on Mar 3, 2009 A new project to meet the challenges posed by the financial crisis has been launched in the French-speaking canton of Vaud, with the backing of the major trade union and employers associations, as well as the cantonal government. The idea is that businesses experiencing a temporary shortfall in orders will be able to lend their…

How training could solve redundancy woes

This content was published on Feb 14, 2009 Education and training, they say, are key for riding out the current crisis and for being well placed when the economy starts to recover. Switzerland has been through a period of growth in recent years. Since 2001 its gross domestic product (GDP) has risen each year and 300,000 jobs have been created. But non-governmental organisation…

Unemployment hits two-year high

This content was published on Feb 6, 2009 The figure represents an unemployment rate of 3.3 per cent, the highest it has been for two years, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said on Friday. It is also a 14.8 per cent increase over one year ago. Seco said almost half the increase, which was expected, was down to the poor economy…

Keeping the open job market clean

This content was published on Jan 27, 2009 Voters decide next month whether to continue and extend an EU labour accord, which is linked to government measures to prevent salaries being undercut. Cantons, including those on the Swiss border, are so far satisfied with the system, which will have to cope with the financial crisis. Frédéric and Nelson work for canton Neuchâtel in…

“Invisible workers” fight for recognition

This content was published on Jan 24, 2009 Low wages, having to share beds and an inability to report domestic violence are just a few of the complaints made by people without legal documents in Geneva and Lausanne. A young man with a heavy rucksack rests at the corner of the Rue de Bourg, one of Lausanne’s most expensive shopping streets. Three policemen…

Catholic Church seeks ways to fund pensions

This content was published on Jan 8, 2009 The Justitia et Pax commission of the Roman Catholic Swiss Bishops’ Conference has drawn up proposals outlining new ways of guaranteeing the funding of old age pensions. Among the suggestions is the introduction of an earmarked inheritance tax. If this was insufficient, a temporary rise in VAT could also be implemented. The study comes out…

Jobless rate reaches two-year high

This content was published on Jan 8, 2009 The rate of unemployment rose to three per cent in December 2008, up from 2.7 per cent in November, and the highest level since March 2007, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said on Thursday. The figures were worse than forecast. The total number of jobless rose by 11,110 to 118,762 in December and…

Homeless battle a deadly winter

This content was published on Jan 8, 2009 From Basel to Zurich and beyond, homeless shelters are nearing capacity and at least one homeless man – a young drug addict in Zurich – has already died this winter from exposure. It was a death that could have been avoided had help reached him in time, said Mark Wiedmer, spokesman for Priest Sieber Social…

Foreign workers poll

This content was published on Dec 5, 2008

Swiss try to clean up domestic worker wages

This content was published on Dec 5, 2008 The federal authorities have addressed the issue and recently announced plans for a standard work contract for household employees including a minimum wage, similar to an initiative in canton Geneva. Although exact numbers are hard to come by, the Geneva-based Interprofessional Workers’ Union, a workers’ rights association, says there are 50,000 unregistered domestic employees in…

Workplace Switzerland

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Workplace Switzerland

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A “win-win way” to beat the financial crisis

More

How training could solve redundancy woes

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Unemployment hits two-year high

More

Keeping the open job market clean

More

“Invisible workers” fight for recognition

More

Catholic Church seeks ways to fund pensions

More

Jobless rate reaches two-year high

More

Homeless battle a deadly winter

More

Foreign workers poll

More

Swiss try to clean up domestic worker wages

Popular Stories

Most Discussed