MPs say ‘no’ to shorter wait for Swiss citizenship and more companies in Switzerland continue to cut jobs — these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
MPs say ‘no’ to shorter wait for Swiss citizenship
During a special session, the National Council has turned down a proposal to halve the wait time before a non-EU foreigner can apply for citizenship.
The proposal (also known as the “Democracy initiative”) aims to cut the wait time before a foreigner can apply for citizenship from the current 10 years of residency down to five.
The initiative also calls for the federal government to be responsible for naturalisation, so that the procedure is standardised across the country.
READ MORE: Switzerland’s National Council rejects easier naturalisation requirements
More companies in Switzerland continue to cut jobs
Two Lucerne companies have joined the long list of Switzerland-based firms that are cutting their workforce.
The companies are Andritz Beutler AG in Gettnau, which is laying off 50 employees, and Serge Ferrari Tersuisse SA in Emmenbrücke, which is firing 62 employees.
In both cases, redundancies stem from decisions made by foreign parent companies – in Germany and France, respectively.
This latest announcement, on April 28th came on the heels of job cuts announced the same week at the credit card provider Swisscard, which said that 40 jobs will be slashed at the company’s Zurich office from May 1st – in addition to hundreds of others to be scrapped this year.
READ MORE: Further job cuts are underway in Switzerland
Foreign workers ‘reverse’ Switzerland’s aging trend
Aside from proven benefits of the foreign population on Switzerland’s labour market and economy in general, immigrants also rejuvenate the country’s aging population.
Data from the Federal Statistical Office shows that foreigners really do slow down the country’s aging process.
That’s because immigrants are largely of working age and in general younger than the native population.
As an example, the average age of Swiss nationals today is 44.5 years. For foreigners living in Switzerland, it is 37.5 years.
READ MORE: How immigration keeps Switzerland young
Airline tickets are becoming increasingly more expensive
As jet fuel prices continue to soar – including for Switzerland’s airlines – spending summer holidays abroad in 2026 will become quite a bit more expensive.
According to a study by Comparis consumer platform published on April 30th, air fares are currently up to 77 percent higher than there were five years ago.
To save money, airlines are optimising their networks, eliminating unprofitable flights, taking fuel-inefficient aircraft out of service, and concentrating on a few connecting hubs.
In Switzerland, Edelweiss already eliminated long-haul flights from Zurich to two US destinations: Denver and Seattle.
Additionally, the frequency of another US-bound flight – from Zurich to Las Vegas – will also be reduced during the early summer and autumn.
READ ALSO: How much more will you spend on your airline tickets in Switzerland this summer?
Swiss voters have rejected anti-immigration referendums for decades
As the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) initiative to limit immigration is gaining momentum before the June 14th national referendum, it is worth remembering that efforts in Switzerland to curb the influx of foreigners are nothing new.
In fact, all but one had failed to receive the majority of votes.
However, according to the latest poll, the SVP’s initiative could break this streak – 52 percent of voters said they are in favour of it.
READ MORE: Past bids to cut immigration in Switzerland failed at the polls
Shopping on foreign websites is risky, Swiss authorities warn
Residents of Switzerland spend almost 15 billion francs a year on online purchases from companies abroad.
This merchandise, however, may not be safe to use.
According to MP Benjamin Roduit, products ordered from abroad, which should not actually be sold in Switzerland because of the risks to health and safety – he mentioned toys as an example – are currently being delivered to many Swiss households.
He has filed a motion in the National Council, seeking to block access to certain foreign trading platforms known for violations of safety measures that are in place in Switzerland and the European Union.
But the sheer volume of these imports makes it difficult to institute effective inspections, deputies said.
READ MORE: Can Switzerland make shopping on foreign platforms safer for consumers?
