Today in Switzerland: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
France complains about Swiss jobs, railway strike to disrupt train traffic, and other news from Switzerland on Tuesday.
Extension of cross-border home-working agreement creates ‘competitive disadvantage’
On June 29th, agreements concerning taxes and social security contributions of French cross-border employees who are still working from home were extended until October 31st.
Companies in France’s Haute-Savoie region, where most of cross-border workers employed in Geneva come from, are upset, claiming that home-office agreement makes working in Switzerland even more attractive for French workers, at the detriment of local businesses.
According to Christophe Coriou, head of the Haute-Savoie section of French employers, “these agreements accentuate the competitive disadvantage” of French companies compared to Swiss jobs — in terms of salaries, but also lower taxes and other perks.
“By emptying them of their human resources, Geneva penalises companies in Haute-Savoie”, Coriou said, adding that “teleworking of cross-border workers, which is perceived as an additional attraction to the salary, accentuates the competitive disadvantage of companies in neighboring France”.
READ MORE: Why French cross-border workers choose to work in Switzerland
And speaking of the Swiss-French border…
Railroad strike to affect cross-border train
A strike by French railroad workers scheduled to begin tonight at 7 pm and continue on Wednesday, will impact the Léman Express train, which links Vaud and Geneva with towns in France.
The normal schedule will be disrupted, and alternative transport on sections of the route will be put into place between certain stations.
⚠️ INFO TRAFIC - 2/2 - Perturbations attendues mercredi 06/07 :
➡️ Entre 5h et 10h, et entre 15h et 20h: trafic assuré
➡️ Entre 10h et 15h, et à partir de 20h: trafic interrompu
👉 Bus de substitution en place et report sur la ligne 17 des tpg
+ d'infos : https://t.co/TwkldEic5w pic.twitter.com/o23hBiLAC4
— Léman Express (@Leman__Express) July 4, 2022
Inflation has no impact on Swiss real estate prices
Although rising inflation — from 2.6 percent in April to 3.4 percent in June — has increased the cost of living in Switzerland, property prices have not followed the upward so far, according to Swiss marketplace group ( SMG) and the real estate consulting firm Cifi.
“Real estate prices do not currently seem to be influenced by the rise in key interest rates and inflation. Condominium apartments raised their prices by 1.1 percent compared to May, while single-family homes showed relative stagnation at 0.3 percent”, SMG said.
Rents are also mostly stable, increasing by only 0.1 percent. The biggest increase in expected to be in energy prices.
READ MORE: Inflation in Switzerland hits 3.4 percent for June
Forget milk and eggs...get fuel at the farm
Switzerland's first biogas filling station is on a farm in Thayngen, Schaffhausen. The fuel comes from cow dung.
"It comes from manure, liquid manure and organic waste from our farm and other local farms," said farmer Christian Müller.
While biogas may provide an alternative to regular fuel at a time when shortage may be looming, it is not cheap: a kilo — which corresponds to 1.5 litres — costs almost 2.90 francs, slightly more than fuelling up at the regular pump.
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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Extension of cross-border home-working agreement creates ‘competitive disadvantage’
On June 29th, agreements concerning taxes and social security contributions of French cross-border employees who are still working from home were extended until October 31st.
Companies in France’s Haute-Savoie region, where most of cross-border workers employed in Geneva come from, are upset, claiming that home-office agreement makes working in Switzerland even more attractive for French workers, at the detriment of local businesses.
According to Christophe Coriou, head of the Haute-Savoie section of French employers, “these agreements accentuate the competitive disadvantage” of French companies compared to Swiss jobs — in terms of salaries, but also lower taxes and other perks.
“By emptying them of their human resources, Geneva penalises companies in Haute-Savoie”, Coriou said, adding that “teleworking of cross-border workers, which is perceived as an additional attraction to the salary, accentuates the competitive disadvantage of companies in neighboring France”.
READ MORE: Why French cross-border workers choose to work in Switzerland
And speaking of the Swiss-French border…
Railroad strike to affect cross-border train
A strike by French railroad workers scheduled to begin tonight at 7 pm and continue on Wednesday, will impact the Léman Express train, which links Vaud and Geneva with towns in France.
The normal schedule will be disrupted, and alternative transport on sections of the route will be put into place between certain stations.
⚠️ INFO TRAFIC - 2/2 - Perturbations attendues mercredi 06/07 :
— Léman Express (@Leman__Express) July 4, 2022
➡️ Entre 5h et 10h, et entre 15h et 20h: trafic assuré
➡️ Entre 10h et 15h, et à partir de 20h: trafic interrompu
👉 Bus de substitution en place et report sur la ligne 17 des tpg
+ d'infos : https://t.co/TwkldEic5w pic.twitter.com/o23hBiLAC4
Inflation has no impact on Swiss real estate prices
Although rising inflation — from 2.6 percent in April to 3.4 percent in June — has increased the cost of living in Switzerland, property prices have not followed the upward so far, according to Swiss marketplace group ( SMG) and the real estate consulting firm Cifi.
“Real estate prices do not currently seem to be influenced by the rise in key interest rates and inflation. Condominium apartments raised their prices by 1.1 percent compared to May, while single-family homes showed relative stagnation at 0.3 percent”, SMG said.
Rents are also mostly stable, increasing by only 0.1 percent. The biggest increase in expected to be in energy prices.
READ MORE: Inflation in Switzerland hits 3.4 percent for June
Forget milk and eggs...get fuel at the farm
Switzerland's first biogas filling station is on a farm in Thayngen, Schaffhausen. The fuel comes from cow dung.
"It comes from manure, liquid manure and organic waste from our farm and other local farms," said farmer Christian Müller.
While biogas may provide an alternative to regular fuel at a time when shortage may be looming, it is not cheap: a kilo — which corresponds to 1.5 litres — costs almost 2.90 francs, slightly more than fuelling up at the regular pump.
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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