The Local Switzerland

Swiss leaders warn migration initiative would ‘end free movement’ and ‘threaten economic prosperity’

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:11:39 +0100

The Swiss Federal Council said on Tuesday that an initiative proposed by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) up for a vote in May would end free movement and threaten the country’s economic prosperity.

How an Italian man's lack of zoo animal knowledge cost him Swiss citizenship

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 13:12:37 +0100

An Italian man was denied Swiss citizenship because he failed the bear necessities - answering questions about local zoo animals. However a federal court in Switzerland has ruled that decision was unfair in a judgement which will impact future applicants.

Would you pass Switzerland's citizenship exam?

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 12:57:15 +0100

Naturalisation tests can be incredibly difficult, even for citizens. Switzerland is no exception - would you be able to pass?

No federal law on handshaking in Swiss schools

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:36:59 +0200

The Swiss lower house of parliament on Tuesday rejected a proposed federal law that would have required all schoolchildren in Switzerland to shake hands with their teachers.

Geneva advises teachers on religion in school

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 14:03:37 +0200

As children start the new school year, the secular canton of Geneva has issued guidelines for teachers on how to deal with religious issues in the classroom.

Politicians: Switzerland is not an island

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 12:26:30 +0200

Switzerland should not cut itself off from the world. That's the message expressed by politicians speaking on the occasion of Swiss National Day on Monday.

Socialist Party to help expats become Swiss

Tue, 02 Aug 2016 09:52:52 +0200

Members of Switzerland's Socialist Party (SP) are volunteering to be “naturalization advisers” under a new campaign to help foreigners in the country become Swiss citizens.

Court fines Muslim father in latest swimming lessons row

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 10:59:43 +0200

A Muslim father was fined in Switzerland on Wednesday for refusing to allow his daughters to take swimming lessons at school, in the latest case exposing the challenges of integration in the alpine country.

Muslim school kids must swim to be Swiss

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 11:57:52 +0200

Authorities in Basel have denied two Muslim teenage girls a Swiss passport because they refused to participate in school swimming lessons and residential camps on religious grounds.

Expats in Switzerland have ‘worst social life’

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:27:28 +0200

Expats in Switzerland have the worst social life of 39 global expat destinations, according to a survey commissioned by banking giant HSBC.

Refugees get 'priority over foreigners' for jobs

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:45:00 +0100

The federal government is backing moves by the cantons, municipalities and employers’ groups to give priority to hiring refugees living in Switzerland over workers from outside the country.

Swiss protest against tightening of asylum law

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:34:00 +0200

More than 1,000 people took to the streets of the Swiss capital Bern on Saturday in a protest against restrictions in the country's asylum law.

Swiss party files petition on immigration cap

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0100

The far-right Swiss People's Party, the country's largest, on Tuesday filed a petition supporting a cap on immigration to Switzerland, where more than a fifth of the population is foreign.

Language to play key role in new immigration law

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:12:38 +0100

Non-EU workers and their relatives will have to prove knowledge of one of Switzerland's national languages if they want to stay in the country.

Pro-immigration mayor resigns over threats

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:33:33 +0200

The mayor of a small town in northern Switzerland has left office after positive comments he made about immigrants were met with insults and threats directed at his family.

'Speed up asylum procedures': Minister

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:21:00 +0200

Switzerland's asylum procedure, which can take years, should be "drastically" speeded up, Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said in an interview published on Saturday.

Swiss torn on presence of foreigners: poll

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:20:00 +0200

Nearly one in two Swiss believes there are too many foreigners in the country, but 80 percent say Switzerland would not be as economically successful without them, according to a poll published on Sunday.

Integration of foreigners top Swiss youth concern

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:17:00 +0200

The integration of foreigners is the top political issue for Swiss youth, overriding concerns about unemployment or climate change, a study released on Monday showed.

Few immigrant kids go to college - study

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:36:00 +0200

Migrant children born in Switzerland are much less likely to go to university than Swiss children, mainly due to unfavorable conditions at home and language barriers, a study found.

Asylum requests up 51 percent - in a month

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:09:00 +0200

New figures show the number of asylum requests to Switzerland has increased by 51 percent in the last month