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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in March 2024

From the year's first national referendum to a major holiday, here are the changes to know about in Switzerland in March 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in March 2024
Don't forget to rewind all your clocks on March 31st. Photo by Ahmad Ossayli on Unsplash

March 1st: Swiss rents could remain the same

On March 1st , the Federal Housing Office usually announces the new mortgage reference interest rate, which determines whether the rents will go up.

Unlike last March, however, when key reference increased, this year experts don’t foresee another hike; the rate is expected to remain at its current level of 1.75 percent, meaning that tenants will be spared another increase, at least for the time being.

March 2nd: More trains to travel through the Gotthard tunnel

The tunnel, which connects German-speaking Switzerland with the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, closed to rail traffic in August 2023, after a freight train came off the track.

The traffic has been gradually re-establishing since then.

From March 2nd, more trains will run on Saturday morning, with three additional trains running from north to south.

Sunday afternoon, four additional trains will run from south to north.

March 3rd : Pension referendum

The first of Switzerland’s four rounds of referendums scheduled for 2024 will take place on March 3rd. Two controversial retirement-related issues will be at stake.

One calls for the payment of an additional, 13th, state pension, of the same amount as the ‘regular’ AHV/AVS pension received each month.

The second one seeks to raise the retirement age for men and women to 66, from the current 65 for men and 64 for women (the latter to go up to 65 in 2025).

Further, the retirement age would be tied to the average life expectancy — that is,  it would be automatically raised if life expectancy increases.

READ ALSO :

In addition to these two national proposals, voters in various cantons and communities will also weigh in on local issues, including in Zurich and Geneva.

March 20th : Goodbye winter, hello spring

The first day of the spring season, the so-called Vernal Equinox, will occur on March 20th at precisely 4:06 am.

That’s when the sun will sit vertically above the equator, making day and night equally long/short.

Taxman cometh

Swiss tax declarations in most cantons are due on March 31st.

In some, however, like Vaud and Bern, the deadline is March 15th.

When you receive your tax documents in the mail, the due date will be marked on the envelope.

But if you don’t have it ready by this date, don’t worry: If your tax return is prepared by an accounting firm, they automatically file every year for extension for all their clients.

You should have received a confirmation letter or email from the firm to that effect.

But if you prepare your tax declaration yourself and you won’t be able to meet the deadline, you must ask the tax authorities in your canton of residence for extension.

This is how you can ask for an extension:

READ ALSO: How to get an extension on your tax deadline in Switzerland 

March 31st: Easter

Though this holiday is usually celebrated in April, this year it falls on Sunday, March 31st.

However, in most cantons (except in Valais and Ticino), March 29th, Good Friday, is also a public holiday. As for Easter Monday, it is an official holiday everywhere except the cantons of Lucerne and Neuchâtel.

In terms of spring school vacations, they vary from canton to canton, usually lasting two weeks. 

READ MORE: Easter trees and egg smashing: How to celebrate Easter the Swiss way

March 31st: Rewind the clocks

Daylight saving time will begin on March 31st at precisely 3 am, when Swiss clocks will go forward an hour.

Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later and there will be more light in the evening.

Also in March:

The website  of Swiss national railways (SBB) will have new features for seat reservations on the SBB network in Switzerland, which has not been possible to do online previously.

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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in July 2024

From price hikes to disrupted train travel, this is what you can expect in Switzerland in July 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in July 2024

July is a traditional holiday month in Switzerland and much of the country comes to a standstill (the same way as Italy and France do in August).

The government is also on a break, so political life slows down as well.

Additionally, a number of offices work on a reduced schedule, so it may seem that nothing at all happens in the country this month, but in fact quite a few changes, and other events, are underway:

July 1st: Legal definition of ‘rape’ is changed

The new criminal law on sexual matters, to go into force on July 1st, will introduce a new definition of sexual violence: ‘No is no.’

This is a reform of a longstanding legislation, which has a much narrower definition of what constitutes rape.

For instance, current law requires that penetration takes place and that victim shows resistance for the act to qualify as sexual violence.

Under the new rule, however, participants need to agree in words or clearly demonstrate they want to engage in sexual activity.

If this condition is not fulfilled, the act will be considered as taking place against the person’s wishes, and thus be a criminal offence.

Also, to be considered as sexual assault, the actual penetration no longer needs to occur.

July 1st: Price of Swiss milk to go up

You will have to pay 3 cents more for a litre of milk — an increase which is meant to bring some financial relief to Swiss dairy farmers.

But only the milk intended for drinking will become more expensive; the product which is used for cheese production will not be impacted by the price hike. 

July 1st: Cost of certain medications will increase

Swiss consumers pay significantly more for their medicines than those in neighbouring European countries. 

From July 1st,  inexpensive medicines whose factory price is less than, or equal to, 15 francs, will become more expensive. 

This change will affect more than half of medications currently being sold in Switzerland.

As a result of this move, “additional costs of several hundred million will be passed on to patients,” according to Intergenrika, which represents generic drug manufacturers in Switzerland. 

In a nutshell, consumers will pay slightly lower prices for medicines that were previously more expensive, but will also end up paying more  for those that are currently cheaper – like generics.

July 1st: SBB will change public announcements concerning suicides on train tracks

About 112 people throw themselves under moving trains each year in Switzerland.

When that happens, and the train stops midway, the public system announcement over loud speakers in the train and at all stations impacted by the delay, cites “personal accident” as a reason for the disruption.

Everyone knows, however, that this is a code word for suicide, and such announcements upset commuters.

For this reason, Swiss national rail company, SBB,  said that from July 1st, “personal accident” will be replaced by a more neutral “event linked to an external cause” — which will cover all disruptions, and not just suicides. 

July 7th: Assistance system in cars

Some safety-relevant assistants will soon be mandatory in Swiss cars.

In line with the EU, every newly registered vehicle in Switzerland must have certain systems from July 7th, 2024. However, there is no obligation to retrofit older vehicles.

For example, an emergency braking assistant must now be installed. This constantly monitors what is happening in front of the vehicle and automatically initiates emergency braking if an obstacle is detected. This can either avoid a collision altogether or at least reduce its severity.

In the future, cars will also support the person at the wheel when reversing. Warning sounds and/or reversing cameras should make obstacles or people behind the vehicle quickly recognisable.

More price hikes: Swisscom’s new ‘package’ to become more expensive

From July 24th, Switzerland’s largest telecom will abandon its inOne Home package, which includes the telephone, Internet and television.
It will be replaced by a new service called Basic Home. But as it offers a high speed internet of 50 Mbps instead of the current 10 Mbps, the cost of the subscription will be higher as well: it will increase from 50 francs a month right now to 59.90 francs.  

The transition to the new package will be done automatically, so anyone who doesn’t want to pay higher subscription price should notify Swisscom as soon as possible.

July travel news: international trains are likely to be unreliable

If you’re planning to go abroad by train this summer, arm yourself with patience.

The reason is the abundance of construction sites across Europe, which slow down, or disrupt altogether, the train schedule.

In Switzerland, railroad maintenance work is carried out at night in order not to disturb the daytime timetable. Some neighbouring countries, however, “have decided to completely close train lines for the duration of the works”, Swiss media reports.

As a result, train travel to and from Switzerland will be chaotic amid the summer holiday rush.

You can see were in Europe train travel will be disrupted the most:

READ ALSO: Why you should not rely on trains to and from Switzerland this summer 

Also:

Culture!

There are plenty of festivals, concerts and other events taking place all over Switzerland in July.

You can see them here:

READ ALSO: 7 unmissable events in Switzerland this July

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