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THE WEEK IN SWITZERLAND

Five big news stories from Switzerland not to miss this week

New language requirements for naturalisation candidates, and higher rents for many tenants, are among the big news stories in Switzerland this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.

Five big news stories from Switzerland not to miss this week
What does this have to do with this week's news? Read to find out. Photo: Pixabay

Zug’s right-wingers want naturalisation candidates to have better (German) language skills

The cantonal government has responded favourably to a motion from the populist Swiss People’s Party calling for a better language proficiency to obtain Swiss citizenship.

Until now, people who wish to obtain Swiss citizenship in the German-speaking canton, where about 30 percent of the population is foreign, must have a proficiency of a B1 (intermediate) oral level, and A2 (upper elementary) in written skills.

Under the new proposal, however, the candidate should have level B2 (upper intermediate) for oral German and level B1(intermediate) in writing.

READ ALSO: Swiss canton Zug pushes for tougher language rules for naturalisation 

Labour shortage fuels need for more employees

A shortage is still impacting Switzerland’s labour market — more so in some regions than in others and in certain specific sectors.

Qualified employees are urgently needed in several sectors, mainly healthcare, IT, and engineering.

This is a finding of a new survey carried out by Adecco recruitment agency together with the Swiss Labour Market Monitor from the University of Zurich.

Most job openings are currently in the Northwest, where 2.8 percent of jobs are vacant, followed by Zurich and central Switzerland (2.6 percent).

READ ALSO: Switzerland sees jump in number of job openings 

Switzerland maintains its work quotas for third-country nationals

Despite a push from Switzerland’s Justice Minister to issue fewer permits to workers from outside the European Union, the government will retain the same number of quotas for 2024.

This means that up to 8,500 skilled workers can again be recruited from third countries: 4,500 will get a B residence permit, and 4,000 a short-term  L permit. 

UK citizens are eligible for separate quotas as part of a transitional post-Brexit arrangement: 2,100 B and 1,400 L permits are set aside just for them.

READ ALSO: Switzerland resists pressure to cut work permits for non-EU workers

Zurich ranked world’s most expensive city

A new ranking by The Economist magazine places Zurich in the top spot.

The reason for the high cost of living in the city, “partly reflects the strength of the Swiss franc, as well as high prices for groceries, household goods and recreation,” according to the report.

Not surprisingly, Switzerland’s second-largest city, Geneva, is also world’s second most-expensive in The Economist ranking.

READ ALSO: Why Zurich is the world’s most expensive city to live in 

New rent hikes to hit a number of Swiss tenants

Tenants in Switzerland just can’t catch a break: their rents will go up from December for the second time this year.

The most recent increase was announced in June.

On Friday, the Federal Housing Office (BWO) announced that it is raising, with immediate effect, the reference mortgage rate to 1.75 percent, from 1.50 percent.
 
“As a result, and in accordance with lease law, landlords can in principle increase the rent by around 3 percent

READ ALSO: Switzerland sees new rent hike but will yours go up? 

Also in the news this week:

Swiss words of 2023

Even if you are still trying to wrap your head around one of Switzerland’s national languages (much less all four), you need to know the words selected as best describing the country’s “social discourse” this year:

READ ALSO: The four ‘Swiss’ words you really need to know in 2023

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For members

THE WEEK IN SWITZERLAND

Six big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week

Attack on a US tourist in Lausanne and criticism of English courses in Swiss schools are among the news The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.

Six big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week

Criticism against English lessons in elementary schools

Switzerland’s Liberal-Radical party (FDP) have come up with a radical proposal to scrap English and French lessons for primary school children, arguing they do more harm than good.

The party’s claim is that children at that age (typically between eight and 11) need to master their own mother tongue as a priority and learning other languages was holding them back from doing this — especially given Switzerland’s recent poor scores in the global PISA rankings for language and reading.
 
READ ALSO: Why is there a move for Swiss schools to abandon ‘useless’ English lessons?

US tourist in Lausanne stabbed with a knife

Even though crime rate in Lausanne is low, and it, along with other Swiss cities, is comparably safe, a woman visiting from the United States was stabbed in a shoulder during an unsuccessful attempt to steal her bag.

Even though the passersby and local shopkeepers tries to intercept the attacker, he managed to escape.

He was, however, caught and arrested shortly thereafter. 

Police said the perpetrator was known for prior criminal acts.

READ ALSO: American tourist ‘violently attacked’ in Lausanne 

Swiss TV license fee to become cheaper

The current fee (also referred to as ‘tax’) of 335 francs a year per household will drop to 312 francs by 2027, and then to 300 francs from 2029.

The main goal of this reduction is to alleviate the financial burden that the license fee places on many households and businesses alike.

This tax has been dropping gradually over the years, from the all-time high of 451 francs.

READ ALSO: Switzerland to lower the obligatory TV license fee 

Swiss interest rates drop, signalling lower rents

After slashing its interest rates in March, Swiss National Bank again lowered the rate by quarter percent, bringing it down to 1.25 percent.
 
This means that inflation rate has fallen to an acceptable level, and it is also a positive sign for many tenants in Switzerland who will see their rents decline as a result of the cut in interest rates.

Consumers in general will also be able to benefit in terms of lower interest on mortgages and other loans.

READ ALSO: Swiss central bank cuts rate for second straight time 

Switzerland ranked as Europe’s most competitive economy

In its new annual ranking, the IMD Business Institute named Switzerland Europe’s top nation, and the world’s second-best, in terms of competitiveness. 

It is in the first place in terms of government efficiency, public finance and institutional organisation.

Additionally,it is at the top for its infrastructure, particularly for health services, environment, as well as educational system.

Switzerland also scores relatively high for productivity and efficiency, as well as infrastructure for scientific research.

And also:

If you are wondering how Switzerland’s employment laws compare to workers’ rights in the United States —  the two are, literally and figuratively worlds apart.

They differ in terms of annual paid leave, health benefits. and many other benefits as well.
 
You can find out more information about it here:
 
READ ALSO: Six ways working in Switzerland is better than in the US 
 

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