Workplace Switzerland

Unions push to raise minimum wage

This content was published on Apr 15, 2008 They said about 11 per cent of workers in mainly the catering and transport industries earn less than the SFr3,500 ($3,503) proposed benchmark, while one in five people falls below SFr4,000. The Trade Union Federation said the standard minimum wage should be set at SFr20 an hour, and SFr4,500 a month for trained professionals. The…

Cargo strikers vote to return to work

This content was published on Apr 7, 2008 The 430 workers voted unanimously to return to work on Wednesday after advice from the strike committee, leaders of the cargo division announced on Monday. The strike action began on March 7 after Federal Railways announced plans for restructuring and over 400 job cuts at the loss-making unit – 126 of them in Italian-speaking Bellinzona.…

Tax hike to bolster disability insurance

This content was published on Mar 19, 2008 The decision to raise VAT by 0.4 per cent from 2010 to 2016 is subject to a nationwide vote. It is expected to result in extra revenue worth SFr1.5 billion ($1.5 billion) annually. VAT is currently at 7.6 per cent while the disability insurance scheme had run up debts of SFr11 billion by the end…

Pensions system reform faces heated debate

This content was published on Mar 14, 2008 The planned reform includes raising the retirement age for women to 65, in line with that of men, and facilitating early retirement schemes for low-income earners. The state old age pension system – a key tenet of the country’s social security scheme – is aimed at supporting the older generation and preventing them sinking into…

To be successful in India a firm has to offer more than just smooth-running machinery

This content was published on Jan 15, 2008 To be successful in India a firm has to offer more than just smooth-running machinery.

Swiss count the cost of mental illness

This content was published on Jan 14, 2008 Zurich University researchers found that depression was the biggest burden, in what has been called the first-ever full assessment of neuropsychiatric illness costs in the country, made public on Monday. The report, published in the latest edition of the Swiss Medical Weekly journal, found that the country’s bill for brain disorders is SFr15 billion ($13.7…

Job market remains “in good shape”

This content was published on Jan 7, 2008 Seco reported on Monday that the unemployment rate in 2007 was 2.8 per cent, its lowest point since the 2.5 per cent recorded in 2005. In a statement Seco said that unemployment in December rose to 2.8 per cent or 2.6 per cent when adjusted for seasonal factors – the same as the previous month.…

Unions say early retirement is main priority

This content was published on Jan 4, 2008 It argues a flexible retirement age in the state pension scheme should be a priority for the new parliament. At the annual news conference in Bern on Friday, federation leaders said provisions in occupational pension schemes were for the most part unfair and too much of a burden on employees. The federation noted that as…

Building conflict set to be resolved

This content was published on Dec 19, 2007 The unions, who represent 80,000 workers, staged a series of protests and strikes at major building sites across the country in the past half-year. Both sides came out in favour of a compromise system for flexible working hours and a slight salary increase, senior union officials said. The new agreement, which still needs to be…

Good economy doesn’t stop Swiss from worrying

This content was published on Dec 17, 2007 The annual “worry barometer”, published by the Credit Suisse bank, shows that people are, however, more relaxed about the prospect of unemployment than before. Foreigners and personal safety are now seen as major issues. The survey, which has been carried out for 30 years, put unemployment – in a country where the jobless rate is…

Workplace Switzerland

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Workplace Switzerland

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Unions push to raise minimum wage

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Cargo strikers vote to return to work

More

Tax hike to bolster disability insurance

More

Pensions system reform faces heated debate

More

To be successful in India a firm has to offer more than just smooth-running machinery

More

Swiss count the cost of mental illness

More

Job market remains “in good shape”

More

Unions say early retirement is main priority

More

Building conflict set to be resolved

More

Good economy doesn’t stop Swiss from worrying

Popular Stories

Most Discussed