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What changes in France from September 1st

The start of September in France has not just brought about a dramatic shift in the weather but also various changes that will impact your daily life, including a major overhaul of the Paris transport pass. Here's everything you need to know.

What changes in France from September 1st
How much will you pay for your pass Navigo in future? Photo: AFP

The Navigo transport pass:

The flagship change that comes into force on Tuesday September 1st sees the Paris transport pass (Le Pass Navigo) switch to one unique price for the whole of all the five zones in Ile-de-France region (see map below).

Previously the price was determined by which zones the traveller needed, with the basic zone one and two pass costing €731 a year (€70 a month – previously €67.50) and for zones one to five it would cost €1,204 a year (€116.50 a month).

But from now on the price for a Navigo pass covering all zones will be set at €70 a month or €770 a year, meaning millions of commuters in and around the capital will pay the same price.

The idea behind the “petite révolution” as it has been called, is to make it cheaper for those living in poorer areas outside Paris in the hope they will ditch their car and take the train instead. It is also aimed creating a more regional identity, rather than the 'us and them' division between Paris and the suburbs as which currently exists.

That means that someone travelling in to Paris from Versailles or Marne-la-Vallée will pay the same as someone who does a daily commute across the centre of the city from Bastille to the Champs-Elysées.

Conversely those who previously only needed a zone one and two pass to commute can now use it to go Charles-de-Gaulle airport or on a day trip to Fontainebleau without having to pay more.

One point worth noting is that single journey tickets will not benefit from the new system and will only allow you to travel in the zones that they apply too.

And those who used to buy a pass for zones two and three (€65.10), or three and four (€62.80), can continue to do so to avoid a steep in rise in the cost of Navigo pass.

Detractors say the move has been implemented just to win votes in the upcoming regional elections and is basically unaffordable for a transport system in desperate need of investment.

SEE ALSO: Paris rail network not fit for 21st Century

Restrictions on cash payments

Those who liked to pay for pricey goods in cash may have to get out the credit card or cheque book in future. Limits on cash payments have been reduced from €3,000 to €1,000 from September 1st.

Furnished apartments

Following disputes between landlords and tenants over what constitutes a furnished apartment, a new list will come into place that forces those renting out homes to install a minimum of equipment, before they can advertise their home as furnished.

That list includes things such as a stoves, tables, chairs and quilts.

Wages for interns

The salary for those on official internships will rise from €3.30 an hour to €3.60 an hour from September 1st. Monthly salaries will rise by €46 from €508 euros to €554. But the rise only applies to an internship lasting longer than two months.

Rise in gas prices

After four months of falling prices the cost of gas will rise once again in September by an average of 0.5 percent, due to a rise in costs. The tariffs, put in place by provider Engie, will affect around 7 million households.

Breathalyzer starting kits in all coaches

From September 1st all coaches and buses will be equipped with breathalyzers that drivers will have to blow into before the vehicles will start. If the test shows that drivers are over the limit the coach simply won’t start and the driver will have an embarrassing call to make to her/his boss.

Trucks and polluting coaches banned from Paris

The ban on polluting trucks and coaches continues to be rolled out, with vehicles put into circulation before 2001 prohibited from entering Paris.

The measure will be applied from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

RSA unemployment benefit to rise

France’s basic unemployment benefit RSA will rise. This means those who receive the handout will now get €526 a month and for those with a child it will be €786 a month.

Pensions guaranteed

A new system will come into place to guarantee that those on general pension schemes can access their money the month after they stop working. Previously, delays caused by hefty bureaucracy meant those who had retired had to wait several months to access their cash.

 

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CHANGES

Everything that changes in Switzerland in February 2021

The new year is just clicking into gear, but February 2021 is already bringing with it some important changes.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in February 2021
Photo by Louis from Pexels

We're only one month into 2021, but already a few things are changing. From car stickers to alarms – and of course coronavirus – are some important changes for February 2021. 

Car stickers

You had the entire month of January to purchase the 2021 motorway sticker to affix on your windshield. If you haven’t done it yet, then as of February 1st you could be fined 200 francs if you are caught driving on a motorway without it.

Testing the alarm signal

The general alarm signal will be tested nationwide, as it is every year, on February 3rd at 1.30 pm. The cantons will also broadcast a notification on the Alertswiss channels.

The general alarm signal – a steady oscillating siren lasting one minute – is intended  to alert the population of an impending emergency or disaster. 

Fines for failing to comply with coronavirus measures

Anyone who violates a coronavirus measure in Switzerland is liable for a fine of between 50 and 200 francs. 

The fines were decided upon at a meeting on January 27th and will be put in place from February 1st.

They are in addition to existing fines of up to 10,000 francs for failing to quarantine. 

EXPLAINED: What are the details of Switzerland's coronavirus restrictions? 

Anyone who fails to wear a mask in public transport, stations or other areas where masks are required risks a fine of up to 200 francs. 

The fines can also be issued for anyone who participates in a prohibited event or who organises an event or gathering which contravenes the country’s coronavirus measures. 

Under Switzerland's Epidemics Act, people can be fined up to CHF5,000 for negligent behaviour against coronavirus measures, and CHF10,000 for wilful behaviour. 

These fines are most often threatened for people who breach quarantine rules.

Railway disruptions

From Monday February 8th to April 1st, circulation at Bern Bümpliz Sud train station will be possible on one track only. This will result in a longer journey time between Fribourg and Bern.

Service in Bern between the IR15 train (Geneva-Airport-Lucerne) and the IC8 (Brig – Bern – Zurich – Romanshorn) may be disrupted.

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is recommending that passengers from French-speaking Switzerland travelling to Zurich and beyond use the IC1 trains via Bern or IC5 via Biel. 

Shorter quarantines

From February 8th, Switzerland will shorten the applicable coronavirus quarantine from ten days to seven.

This means those told to self-isolate can come out of quarantine after seven days, rather than 10, with a negative test result.

The quarantine rule also applies to incoming travellers from a country with a high risk of infection.

READ MORE: Switzerland to shorten coronavirus quarantine, require negative PCR test on all flight arrivals 

Free coronavirus testing

Switzerland has introduced free nationwide coronavirus testing programme for people without symptoms in an effort to prevent large-scale outbreaks.

From January 28th, “the federal government pays for persons without symptoms to be tested so that those who are particularly vulnerable can be better protected and local outbreaks of infection can be contained early on”, authorities announced on Wednesday. 

The government said it was prepared to spend more than a billion dollars the scheme, saying asymptomatic people were probably responsible for most new infections.

EXPLAINED: How will Switzerland’s mass testing scheme work?

Mandatory PCR test for all air arrivals

In addition, anyone arriving by air will need to present a negative PCR test from February 1st. 

This applies to people from high-risk and non-high-risk countries. Those arriving not by air will have to show a PCR test only if they are coming from a high-risk country. 

Electronic form required to enter Switzerland

Everyone who enters Switzerland other than by car is required to complete an electronic form before entering from February 8th onwards. 

The measure was announced on Wednesday, January 28th, by the Swiss government.

Everyone entering via plane, ship, bus and train – but not via car – will be required to complete the electronic entry form.

According to the official government advice about the new requirement, “this means that infections can be traced back more quickly and easily and chains of infection can be broken early.”

More information is available at the following link. 

READ MORE: All passengers arriving in Switzerland required to register from February 8th 

End of shutdown

If the epidemiological situation allows it, the current coronavirus shutdown measures, such as the closure of restaurants, bars and non-essential businesses, should end on the last day of the month – February 28th.

These businesses have been shuttered since January 18th in an attempt to curb the spread of the new coronavirus variants from the UK and South Africa. 

Stay tuned to The Local Switzerland for coverage of Switzerland's coronavirus lockdown. 

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