Workplace Switzerland

Swiss workers compete in “Skill Olympics”

This content was published on Sep 14, 2001 The 36th WorldSkills Competition, which runs through September 19, brings together young people from all over the world who compete in many categories to establish world-class standards in trades and professions. Known informally as the “Skill Olympics,” the contest has been held every two years for more than half a century, since its founding in…

Reduced working week gets short shrift in parliament

This content was published on Jun 19, 2001 Senators voted overwhelmingly against the proposal, which has already been rejected by the House of Representatives. The initiative, by the Trade Union Federation, called for a gradual reduction in the working week to 36 hours, or a maximum of 1,872 hours annually. Currently, employees in Switzerland work an average of 42 hours per week. Supporters…

Switzerland helps labour relations in South Africa

This content was published on Jun 11, 2001 The project, which ran from 1997 to 2000, was paid for by the Swiss foreign ministry and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and run by the United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO). The leader of the ILO/Swiss Project, Charles Nupen, said Apartheid had left South Africa with a legacy of animosity between workers and…

Bernese healthcare personnel stage strike

This content was published on May 9, 2001 The protest marked the second time in the past six months that Bern healthcare professionals have made demands to the authorities. They have asked for a 1.5 per cent salary increase, wage adjustments to reflect the cost of living and more personnel. Bern’s cantonal government last week offered a series of improvements, worth an estimated…

Funding for early retirement scheme reduced

This content was published on May 8, 2001 A parliamentary commission had proposed spending SFr718 million to help people with lower and medium-sized incomes to take early retirement. This would have lowered their pensions by between 8.4 and 14.3 per cent. In a tight ballot, decided on the casting vote of the House of Representatives speaker, Peter Hess, members of parliament preferred to…

Government measure to raise contributions of self-employed rejected

This content was published on May 7, 2001 The measure was rejected by only four votes on the first day of a three-day special session of parlimanent, called to discuss possible changes to the old age pension scheme. The government said the change would have generated SFr63 million in public revenue. But representatives of the self-employed rejected the government’s argument that the current…

Parliament tackles reform of the old age pension scheme

This content was published on May 7, 2001 The issue is expected to lead to charged debates in the House of Representatives. The main political parties differ widely in their opinion on government proposals to guarantee funding of the old age pension scheme and allowing people to take early retirement. The government wants to increase Value Added Tax and eventually raise the retirement…

Parliament rejects shorter working week

This content was published on Mar 9, 2001 The proposal, by the Trade Union Federation, foresees gradually reducing the working week to 36 hours, or a maximum of 1,872 hours annually. Currently, employees in Switzerland work an average of 42 hours per week. During Thursday’s debate in the House of Representatives, supporters of the initiative argued that reducing the working week would create…

Resurgent watchmakers in need of new blood

This content was published on Jan 13, 2001 Opinion is divided about the labour situation in Switzerland’s watchmaking industry. Some believe urgent action is needed to address the shortage of skilled personnel; others say the problem will resolve itself in the years ahead. What is agreed is that the number of graduates from Switzerland’s six watchmaking schools is far from sufficient to cope…

Unions go on offensive against low wages

This content was published on Jan 8, 2001 The federation’s president, Paul Rechsteiner, said in Bern on Monday that salaries in several traditionally low-pay sectors, such as retail and cleaning companies, had gone up. He credited the unions for the success. Rechsteiner said the federation would step up the fight against what he called scandalously low wages. He said he was pleased to…

Workplace Switzerland

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Workplace Switzerland

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Swiss workers compete in “Skill Olympics”

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Reduced working week gets short shrift in parliament

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Switzerland helps labour relations in South Africa

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Bernese healthcare personnel stage strike

More

Funding for early retirement scheme reduced

More

Government measure to raise contributions of self-employed rejected

More

Parliament tackles reform of the old age pension scheme

More

Parliament rejects shorter working week

More

Resurgent watchmakers in need of new blood

More

Unions go on offensive against low wages

Popular Stories

Most Discussed