Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Friday
Find out what's going on today in Switzerland with The Local's short roundup of the news.
Swiss health insurance premiums to rise minimally in 2022
The increase in the premiums will likely be less than 1 percent, according to consumer information organisation, Comparis.ch — even though the overall cost of health care is expected to grow by 2 to 3 percent.
Among the factors that will help keep the cost of premiums from skyrocketing — as was the case in previous years —is the growing proportion of people opting for alternative models in basic insurance and the decline in the price of medicines.
Good News für Versicherte: «Viele dürfen sich 2022 auf eine Nullrunde, einige gar auf leicht tiefere Krankenkassenprämien freuen», so die #Prämienprognose von Gesundheitsexperte @FelixSchneuwly. #Krankenkassen @Blickch https://t.co/uw8TTNWONZ
— comparis.ch (@Comparis) June 10, 2021
Covid-19 Task Force to be downsized
Due to the progress of the vaccination programme and the much improved epidemiological situation in the country, the number of experts in Switzerland’s Covid-19 Task Force, which advises the Federal Council on ways to combat the disease, will be reduced this summer.
‘Switzerland is well on its way to overcoming the crisis”, said Task Force member Tanja Stadler,.
However, she warmed that despite the positive evolution, “we must remain vigilant. We don’t know, for instance, how new mutations will affect vaccine effectiveness”.
READ MORE: Covid-19 update: The stats that show Switzerland is winning the pandemic battle
The pandemic has made Switzerland more vulnerable to terrorist attacks, experts say
The health crisis has increased the potential for physical and digital attacks on Switzerland, according to a new report by the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB).
Specifically, the pandemic paved the way to protests and demonstrations that could be used by both right and left-wing extremists to commit acts of violence, the NDB warned.
The increased reliance on the Internet during the shutdown has also offered more opportunities for cyber criminals to strike. This means that more companies could be attacked and supply chains could be disrupted, the agency pointed out.
Product labeling: not only Deutsch, bitte
More and more cosmetic and food products sold in Switzerland list their ingredients and other mandatory information in only one national language, German.
That’s because the legislation requiring product labeling in three national languages was repealed and new regulations entered into force in May.
The aim is to facilitate imports from the European Union.
"This phenomenon annoys French-speaking consumers, because they don’t feel recognised" in their own country, according to the French-speaking Federation of Consumers.
The organisation wants products to be labeled in the language of the region in which they are sold, regardless of where they are manufactured.
An online tool to see whether you are earning enough
A wage calculator created by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) allows employees to check within seconds whether their salaries are high enough.
The SGB programmed the calculator with the latest salary levels from 72 industries and 36,000 companies.
By inputting information such as the number of years spent working in a given position, the online calculator computes customary local wages for the job in question.
READ MORE: REVEALED: What are the best and worst paid jobs in Switzerland?
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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Swiss health insurance premiums to rise minimally in 2022
The increase in the premiums will likely be less than 1 percent, according to consumer information organisation, Comparis.ch — even though the overall cost of health care is expected to grow by 2 to 3 percent.
Among the factors that will help keep the cost of premiums from skyrocketing — as was the case in previous years —is the growing proportion of people opting for alternative models in basic insurance and the decline in the price of medicines.
Good News für Versicherte: «Viele dürfen sich 2022 auf eine Nullrunde, einige gar auf leicht tiefere Krankenkassenprämien freuen», so die #Prämienprognose von Gesundheitsexperte @FelixSchneuwly. #Krankenkassen @Blickch https://t.co/uw8TTNWONZ
— comparis.ch (@Comparis) June 10, 2021
Covid-19 Task Force to be downsized
Due to the progress of the vaccination programme and the much improved epidemiological situation in the country, the number of experts in Switzerland’s Covid-19 Task Force, which advises the Federal Council on ways to combat the disease, will be reduced this summer.
‘Switzerland is well on its way to overcoming the crisis”, said Task Force member Tanja Stadler,.
However, she warmed that despite the positive evolution, “we must remain vigilant. We don’t know, for instance, how new mutations will affect vaccine effectiveness”.
READ MORE: Covid-19 update: The stats that show Switzerland is winning the pandemic battle
The pandemic has made Switzerland more vulnerable to terrorist attacks, experts say
The health crisis has increased the potential for physical and digital attacks on Switzerland, according to a new report by the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB).
Specifically, the pandemic paved the way to protests and demonstrations that could be used by both right and left-wing extremists to commit acts of violence, the NDB warned.
The increased reliance on the Internet during the shutdown has also offered more opportunities for cyber criminals to strike. This means that more companies could be attacked and supply chains could be disrupted, the agency pointed out.
Product labeling: not only Deutsch, bitte
More and more cosmetic and food products sold in Switzerland list their ingredients and other mandatory information in only one national language, German.
That’s because the legislation requiring product labeling in three national languages was repealed and new regulations entered into force in May.
The aim is to facilitate imports from the European Union.
"This phenomenon annoys French-speaking consumers, because they don’t feel recognised" in their own country, according to the French-speaking Federation of Consumers.
The organisation wants products to be labeled in the language of the region in which they are sold, regardless of where they are manufactured.
An online tool to see whether you are earning enough
A wage calculator created by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) allows employees to check within seconds whether their salaries are high enough.
The SGB programmed the calculator with the latest salary levels from 72 industries and 36,000 companies.
By inputting information such as the number of years spent working in a given position, the online calculator computes customary local wages for the job in question.
READ MORE: REVEALED: What are the best and worst paid jobs in Switzerland?
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local please get in touch with us at [email protected]
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