Workplace Switzerland

Union man appointed to top employment post

This content was published on Nov 22, 2006 But Gaillard’s nomination has received mixed reactions, in particular from employers, who are urging him to distance himself from the unions. The government announced on Wednesday that Gaillard would take over at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) on February 1, 2007. Gaillard, 51, has been a member of the Federation of Trade Unions…

Pension rescue plan dumped by voters

This content was published on Sep 24, 2006 Opponents said the outcome confirmed that the public supported the independence of both the national bank and the cantons in financial matters. Only three of the 26 cantons decided in favour of the proposal with nearly 60 per cent of voters around the country dismissing it at the ballot box. Voters displayed “tremendous political maturity”…

Swiss Trade Union Federation

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 Founded in 1880, the Swiss Trade Union Federation is the largest union umbrella organisation. It includes 16 unions representing about 380,000 members. Another umbrella organisation – Travail.Suisse – has 13 unions representing about 160,000 members. The Swiss Trade Union Federation has traditionally been close to the Social Democrat movement, while Travail.Suisse comprises unions that have…

Pensions (Three Pillar system)

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 The old-age pension system consists of three levels (pillars). The first is the state pension plan. Every resident must pay contributions to a federal insurance scheme, which pays out a pension on retirement to cover basic needs. The second pillar involves an occupational pension. This is an obligatory insurance to which employers and employees contribute…

Law on Occupational Benefits

This content was published on Sep 18, 2006 People earning a salary above SFr19,350 per year must join an occupational pension scheme. The employer and the employee pay equal contributions. The money accumulated is paid out as a lump sum or as a monthly pension on retirement. It is also used to cover cases of invalidity or is paid to orphans or surviving…

70 years of fighting poverty and injustice

This content was published on Sep 8, 2006 The non-governmental organisation’s first challenge was to care for victims of the Spanish Civil War. Active in both Switzerland and abroad, it also provides humanitarian aid. In her speech at the anniversary event in Zurich, Calmy-Rey, whose centre-left Social Democrat Party co-founded the SLA in 1936, praised the SLA’s important role and urged Switzerland to…

Fighting poverty through solidarity

This content was published on Sep 6, 2006 But the non-governmental organisation says it will not be resting on its laurels, as poverty is still as prevalent today as when it was founded in 1936. Created by the centre-left Social Democrat Party and the trade unions, SLA was formed during a period of economic downturn and high unemployment in Switzerland. One of its…

Employers urge greater focus on older workers

This content was published on Aug 29, 2006 The call comes as part of an ongoing debate over the financial future of the country’s pension scheme and an expected shortage of workers. Employers and society as a whole need to show greater flexibility over the question of Switzerland’s ageing workforce and be more aware of the qualities of older workers, the organisation said…

Row over National Bank profits gathers pace

This content was published on Aug 17, 2006 They insist their initiative does not threaten the bank’s independence nor deprive the cantonal authorities of funds. A cross-party committee, including the centre-left Social Democrats, the Trade Union Federation, the Greens as well as the Protestant Party, said approval of their proposal would help ensure the financial future of the ailing pension scheme. They added…

Female part-timers in the driving seat

This content was published on Aug 8, 2006 According to the Federal Statistics Office study, Switzerland has the second-highest percentage of part-time workers in Europe – 32 per cent – four out of five of whom are women. “Women working part-time are one of the driving forces behind the Swiss economy,” confirmed George Sheldon, a professor at Basel University. “A dormant factor has…

Workplace Switzerland

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Workplace Switzerland

More

Union man appointed to top employment post

More

Pension rescue plan dumped by voters

More

Swiss Trade Union Federation

More

Pensions (Three Pillar system)

More

Law on Occupational Benefits

More

70 years of fighting poverty and injustice

More

Fighting poverty through solidarity

More

Employers urge greater focus on older workers

More

Row over National Bank profits gathers pace

More

Female part-timers in the driving seat

Popular Stories

Most Discussed