Five big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week
Impact of lower interest rates on Swiss consumers and a look at the employees' work-life balance are among the Swiss news The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
Will Swiss consumers benefit from the new, lower interest rate?
In a move that surprised many in the financial world, the Swiss National Bank cut the interest rate from 1.75 to 1.50 percent.
This move, a sign that Switzerland’s inflation rate has eased, will affect consumers in several ways — some positive and others less so.
READ ALSO: What impact will latest bank interest rate cut have on Swiss consumers?
More foreign doctors practice in Switzerland
Slightly more than 40 percent of medical professionals working in Switzerland are of foreign origin, and their numbers are growing.
They are hired to fill the gap, as the number of doctors trained in Switzerland is insufficient.
Most of foreign medical professionals come from neighbour EU states: Germany, Italy, France, and Austria.
READ ALSO : Why do so many foreign doctors practice in Switzerland?
How does Switzerland’s work-life balance compare with other countries?
Though according to some surveys, Switzerland lags behind a few countries in terms of balancing the two just right, it is not doing badly either.
In all, Switzerland's employees enjoy many benefits, but in some aspects are disadvantaged vis-à-vis other nations in this particular field.
READ ALSO: Does Switzerland really have a good work-life balance?
Swiss cantons where English is spoken the most
The percentage of English speakers in a number of cantons exceeds the proportion of users of other national languages.
In fact, official data indicates that English is the most prevalent foreign language in Switzerland — not just in regions where many foreigners live, but in some less international ones as well.
READ ALSO : Where in Switzerland is English most widely used?
Swiss vs. foreign residents : how do their housing conditions compare?
Official numbers indicate that living space in Switzerland is determined by nationality.
In each canton, Swiss nationals have more living space at their disposal than their foreign counterparts :t he national average for a Swiss household of two or more persons is 44.6 sq/m, while for foreign households it is 30.8 sq/m.
READ ALSO: Rent prices and living space: Where in Switzerland has the best deal?
And also :
Are you planning to travel during the Easter holidays?
If so, there are many things to know about before you hit the road / plane / or train:
READ ALSO: All you need to know about travel to, from, and within Switzerland this Easter
Last but not least:
How much do you actually know about the chocolate Easter bunny wrapped in gold foil?
If your learning curve about this Swiss icon is high, you can start here:
READ ALSO: How Switzerland's gold chocolate Easter bunny took over the world
Comments
See Also
Will Swiss consumers benefit from the new, lower interest rate?
In a move that surprised many in the financial world, the Swiss National Bank cut the interest rate from 1.75 to 1.50 percent.
This move, a sign that Switzerland’s inflation rate has eased, will affect consumers in several ways — some positive and others less so.
READ ALSO: What impact will latest bank interest rate cut have on Swiss consumers?
More foreign doctors practice in Switzerland
Slightly more than 40 percent of medical professionals working in Switzerland are of foreign origin, and their numbers are growing.
They are hired to fill the gap, as the number of doctors trained in Switzerland is insufficient.
Most of foreign medical professionals come from neighbour EU states: Germany, Italy, France, and Austria.
READ ALSO : Why do so many foreign doctors practice in Switzerland?
How does Switzerland’s work-life balance compare with other countries?
Though according to some surveys, Switzerland lags behind a few countries in terms of balancing the two just right, it is not doing badly either.
In all, Switzerland's employees enjoy many benefits, but in some aspects are disadvantaged vis-à-vis other nations in this particular field.
READ ALSO: Does Switzerland really have a good work-life balance?
Swiss cantons where English is spoken the most
The percentage of English speakers in a number of cantons exceeds the proportion of users of other national languages.
In fact, official data indicates that English is the most prevalent foreign language in Switzerland — not just in regions where many foreigners live, but in some less international ones as well.
READ ALSO : Where in Switzerland is English most widely used?
Swiss vs. foreign residents : how do their housing conditions compare?
Official numbers indicate that living space in Switzerland is determined by nationality.
In each canton, Swiss nationals have more living space at their disposal than their foreign counterparts :t he national average for a Swiss household of two or more persons is 44.6 sq/m, while for foreign households it is 30.8 sq/m.
READ ALSO: Rent prices and living space: Where in Switzerland has the best deal?
And also :
Are you planning to travel during the Easter holidays?
If so, there are many things to know about before you hit the road / plane / or train:
READ ALSO: All you need to know about travel to, from, and within Switzerland this Easter
Last but not least:
How much do you actually know about the chocolate Easter bunny wrapped in gold foil?
If your learning curve about this Swiss icon is high, you can start here:
READ ALSO: How Switzerland's gold chocolate Easter bunny took over the world
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.