Switzerland’s population might never grow as much far-right suggests, and an SVP official goes against party line to recruit workers from abroad — these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
Switzerland’s population might never grow as much far-right suggests
The premise of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) ‘No to 10 million’ initiative, which is to be voted on in a referendum on June 14th, is that immigration from the EU needs to be curbed in order to slow down population growth and prevent the country’s key infrastructure, including housing, public transport, health system, and schools, from being strained.
However, a demographer says that this threshold may never be reached, due to the country’s aging population and steadily declining birth rates.
READ MORE: Why Switzerland’s population may never reach the 10-million mark
SVP official goes against party line to recruit workers from abroad
Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, one of the Swiss People’s Party vice-presidents, supports its bid to limit immigration of workers from the European Union.
However, as the owner of a major chemical company, she has been going against her party’s stance by recruiting employees from the EU .
Therefore, she benefits from the free movement of people agreement – the very principle that she and her party are against.
READ MORE: Prominent backer of Swiss anti-immigration plan under spotlight for hiring EU workers
Cyber criminals are increasing their attacks on Swiss infrastructure
Cyber attacks are on the rise in Switzerland and there is a reason why criminals consider the country a valuable target
According to Nicolas Mayencourt, founder and CEO of a cyber security firm Dreamlab Technologies, “Switzerland remains a prime target for cyber criminals.”
That’s because “Switzerland boasts prominent pharmaceutical and electronic industries, and is one of the world’s primary financial hubs,” he said. “And we are practically the global leader in commodities trading .”
All of these industries – combined or separate – make the country an attractive target for cyber criminals.
READ MORE: Why is Switzerland now ‘a prime target for cyber criminals’?
Wages and taxes among issues on cantonal ballots in June
On June 14th, voters in Switzerland will have their say on a number of issues of regional importance.
Among them are Basel citizens deciding whether their taxes should in the future be deducted directly from wages; voters in Vaud having their say on introduction of minimum wages; Genevans voting on extended Sunday shop openings; and those in Zurich weighing in on a variety of housing initiatives.
READ MORE: What’s at stake in Swiss cantonal referendums in June?
Chaotic situation is expected in and near Geneva in June
Disruptions are due to the G7 summit to be held from June 15th to June 17th in Evian, France – only 45 km from Geneva.
“Although the summit is taking place in France, the cities of Geneva and Lausanne, as well as the entire Lake Geneva region, are exposed to security risks,” the Federal Council said.
As a precaution, a number of borders between the two countries will be closed, and checks will be more rigorous on those than remain open.
Disturbances are also expected at the Geneva airport, and public transport will operate on a holiday schedule.
READ ALSO: The disruptions in and around Geneva you need to be aware of in June
Candidates use increasingly more AI in their job search
A new study found that applicants are adopting this technology significantly faster than employers.
In Switzerland, “86 percent of candidates use AI to refine language, tailor CVs, and summarise skills — well above the global average (71 percent) and Europe overall (67 percent).”
By comparison, 69 percent of employers use AI in recruitment processes, and only 39 percent of them say AI-assisted applications make them more likely to hire.
READ MORE: How Artificial Intelligence is re-shaping job application process in Switzerland
