The Swiss Trade Union Federation is gathering signatures to force a nationwide vote on using central bank profits to boost the country’s ailing pension system.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Español
es
Los sindicatos exigen al banco central suizo que rescate las pensiones
The initiative, which was launched on Friday, would need 100,000 supporters to trigger a future vote on the proposal.
At present, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) distributes up to CHF6 billion ($6.5 billion) between cantons and the federal government during profitable years.
Trade union leaders want this amount to be increased to between CHF8 billion and CHF10 billion, with the extra cash (CHF2-4 billion) being allocated to Swiss pensions.
Federation chief economist Daniel Lampart said the SNB has amassed more than CHF1 trillion in shares, bonds and gold and that CHF100 billion of this is just “sitting around in the central bank’s basement”.
Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?
Some regions of the world are on an upward trajectory with the promise of a steadily improving future. Where do you live? And in which direction is your region or continent developing?
Switzerland follows the EU with new sanctions against Russian oil
This content was published on
Switzerland is stepping up its sanctions against Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine. The measures are aimed at Russia's oil windfall. The European Union (EU) approved the same package of sanctions, the 18th since the start of the war, in mid-July.
Swiss government makes a case for e-ID ahead of referendum
This content was published on
The electronic-ID is secure and easy to use and its use is voluntary and free of charge: these are the arguments the government made in its campaign for a 'Yes' vote on the e-ID Act slated for September 28.
Switzerland trials muzzles and electric harps against Asian hornets
This content was published on
Scientists have fitted several beehives in Cornol in canton Jura with electric harps and muzzles to electrocute and stop Asian hornets.
Record number of fawns saved by Swiss drone volunteers
This content was published on
Thousands of fawns were saved from the blades of mowers thanks to volunteers equipped with drones with thermal imaging cameras.
This content was published on
Houses and flats became more expensive again in the first half of the year. In the second quarter of 2025 in particular, momentum increased across Switzerland due to high demand and low interest rates.
Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof receives first Locarno City of Peace Award
This content was published on
The new award was created to strengthen Locarno’s role as a symbol of dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and to mark the centenary of the 1925 Locarno Treaties – a crucial milestone in twentieth-century European diplomacy.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Pension reform passes in parliament but set to be challenged to vote
This content was published on
Parliament has approved a major reform of the Swiss pension system, including a controversial rise in the retirement age of women.
Swiss central bank forecasts CHF26bn annual profit
This content was published on
The Swiss National Bank expects to post a profit of CHF26 billion for 2021, made from its growing foreign currency holdings.
Senate rejects plan to use excess gold for pensions
This content was published on
Parliamentarians voted on Tuesday in favour of giving the cantons two-thirds of the funds raised, with the remaining third for the federal government. Earlier this year Switzerland’s other parliamentary chamber, the House of Representatives, supported a proposal to invest the bulk of the proceeds in the old-age pension scheme. The difference of opinion between the…
This content was published on
Voters rejected two proposals on how to spend the money – a clear signal that the government needs to come up with new ideas about what to do with the cash. Voters turned down the government plan to divide the money equally among the state pension scheme, the cantons and the so-called Solidarity Foundation, which…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.