Workplace Switzerland

Ageing workforce can play greater role

This content was published on Mar 3, 2006 Some 70 per cent of 804 firms surveyed have measures in place to retain older workers, with the proportion of the workforce over the age of 50 expected to rise from a quarter to a third by 2020. The findings were revealed at a conference in Zurich, co-hosted by economic think tank Avenir Suisse and…

Workers suspend metal factory strike

This content was published on Feb 23, 2006 A spokesman said the employees expected to return to their jobs at the Swissmetal factory in Reconvilier on Monday, ending a walkout that has lasted a month. Employees on Thursday voted on the conditions, which had been hammered out by Swissmetal bosses and the trade union, Unia, under the eye of government-appointed mediator Rolf Bloch.…

Swissmetal sacks top staff amid strike

This content was published on Feb 13, 2006 The strikers continued to stay away from work on Monday while moves were underway by a government-appointed mediator to break the deadlock. Swissmetal said the 21 senior staff members had been sacked because they failed to turn up for work on Monday despite repeated calls by the company. Only four staff members reported for work,…

Thousands protest over foundry closure plans

This content was published on Feb 11, 2006 The strike, in its 18th day, was called in protest against plans to close the Reconvilier foundry, with the possible loss of 120 jobs. Saturday’s rally, the largest so far in support of Reconvilier, gathered together people from all over the Jura region, including the strikers, their families, union representatives and local politicians. According to…

New rules aim to stem rising poverty

This content was published on Jan 3, 2006 The authorities say common guidelines introduced last year in an attempt to re-integrate welfare recipients into society and the labour market have been successful. But they argue that much still needs to be done. Those people who find some form of paid work can benefit from an additional payment, while the basic welfare payout has…

Firms look to retain their older employees

This content was published on Jan 3, 2006 The Tages-Anzeiger newspaper of Zurich says research shows firms including ABB Switzerland are seeking to address an anticipated future shortage in the labour market. In ten years’ time children of the baby-boom generation of the 1950s will reach retirement age. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) believes that from that point the working population…

Workers suffer year of discontent

This content was published on Dec 30, 2005 The latest figures show that some 38,915 working days were lost to strikes in 2004 – the highest number since 1984 – as unhappy employees vented their anger over unsatisfactory pay and conditions. Both the public and private sectors were affected this year. At the beginning of December, 2,500 civil servants vented their fury by…

Charity warns of rising poverty

This content was published on Dec 28, 2005 In its “Social Almanac 2006”, Caritas called for an improved social insurance system at the national level to provide for those who had fallen through the safety net. The charity said the number of people excluded from the job market was much higher than the 146,000 people officially listed as unemployed in November. It said…

Unia defies critics and claims success

This content was published on Dec 22, 2005 It adds that membership figures have remained stable following the merger of four unions to create Unia a year ago. Co-president Renzo Ambrosetti said on Thursday that the move had paid off for the trade unions and proved that critics of the merger were wrong. He told a news conference in Bern that Unia had…

Federal employees fight budget plans

This content was published on Dec 1, 2005 The unions say the restrictions, which would mostly come into force from 2010 onwards, will lead to massive job losses and lower salaries. Around 2,500 civil servants took to the streets on Thursday. The demonstrators demanded more respect for their work in difficult conditions, an end to redundancies and to the introduction of lower salaries.…

Workplace Switzerland

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Workplace Switzerland

More

Ageing workforce can play greater role

More

Workers suspend metal factory strike

More

Swissmetal sacks top staff amid strike

More

Thousands protest over foundry closure plans

More

New rules aim to stem rising poverty

More

Firms look to retain their older employees

More

Workers suffer year of discontent

More

Charity warns of rising poverty

More

Unia defies critics and claims success

More

Federal employees fight budget plans

Popular Stories

Most Discussed