https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Thanks to sound investments, 2025 was a lucrative year for second-pillar pensions – including for foreign workers employed in Switzerland. And they will benefit in 2026. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260512/why-2026-is-a-good-year-for-retirees-in-switzerlands Tue, 12 May 2026 15:37:34 +0200 why-2026-is-a-good-year-for-retirees-in-switzerlands Like other countries, Switzerland too is a bureaucracy, where various government agencies oversee different functions of public and private life. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240125/taxes-to-work-permits-who-deals-with-what-in-switzerland Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:56:04 +0100 taxes-to-work-permits-who-deals-with-what-in-switzerland Some people decide to move out of Switzerland after working here for many years. If you leave, can you withdraw your pension money and, if so, how - and how much? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220422/reader-question-can-i-take-my-pension-money-with-me-when-i-leave-switzerland Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:29:44 +0200 reader-question-can-i-take-my-pension-money-with-me-when-i-leave-switzerland Switzerland was named the best country for senior citizens. But how much money do you need to have to afford life here? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240927/how-much-money-do-you-need-in-switzerland-to-retire-comfortably Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:29:59 +0200 how-much-money-do-you-need-in-switzerland-to-retire-comfortably Due to very low interest rates and increasing life expectancy in Switzerland, pension funds remain under pressure, a new study shows. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250808/why-future-swiss-pensioners-must-prepare-for-less-money-in-old-age Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:18:15 +0200 why-future-swiss-pensioners-must-prepare-for-less-money-in-old-age If you are dreaming of stopping work before the statuary retirement age of 65, you may have to rethink your strategy — at least, that’s what the Swiss government wants you to do. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250602/explained-how-switzerland-could-penalise-you-if-you-retire-early Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:52:07 +0200 explained-how-switzerland-could-penalise-you-if-you-retire-early Whether you already live in Switzerland or dream of spending your golden years here, there is much to know about retiring in this country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210622/explained-everything-you-need-to-know-about-retiring-in-switzerland Tue, 22 Jun 2021 19:31:24 +0200 explained-everything-you-need-to-know-about-retiring-in-switzerland Swiss MPs have finally set a date for when payments of an additional month’s state pension will begin. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250304/switzerland-sets-date-for-start-of-13th-pension-payments Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:37:03 +0100 switzerland-sets-date-for-start-of-13th-pension-payments Pensions are always a hot-button topic in Switzerland. We look at whether it's worth setting up a private pension plan. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240221/explained-is-it-worthwhile-setting-up-a-private-pension-plan-in-switzerland Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:50:11 +0100 explained-is-it-worthwhile-setting-up-a-private-pension-plan-in-switzerland On March 4th, 2024, Swiss voters approved a move to pay an extra month’s state pension to retirees but what's happened to this reform and who will benefit and who will end up paying for it? https://www.thelocal.ch/20241205/winners-and-losers-what-will-switzerlands-new-13th-pension-mean-for-you Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:05:08 +0100 winners-and-losers-what-will-switzerlands-new-13th-pension-mean-for-you Contributing to Switzerland’s second and third-pillar pensions offers tax benefits. But this profitable system may soon be abolished. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241022/will-planned-tax-changes-make-it-less-beneficial-to-pay-into-your-swiss-pension Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:57:27 +0200 will-planned-tax-changes-make-it-less-beneficial-to-pay-into-your-swiss-pension Swiss voters rejected proposals to bolster biodiversity protections as well as a pensions reform in twin referendums on Sunday, according to projected results. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240922/swiss-vote-on-pensions-and-environment-protections Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:55:37 +0200 swiss-vote-on-pensions-and-environment-protections Since Swiss voters approved a move to pay an extra month’s state pension to retirees, the government has looked into various ways to finance the "13th pension payment" without penalising those who are still employed — in other words, not burdening the current workforce with higher social contributions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240916/how-will-switzerlands-plan-to-hike-vat-affect-you Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:43:15 +0200 how-will-switzerlands-plan-to-hike-vat-affect-you In the third round of 2024 referendums to be held on September 22nd, Swiss voters will have to decide whether the second-pillar pension should be reformed. But the issue is complex and highly controversial. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240904/who-would-benefit-if-switzerland-votes-for-pension-reform Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:52:22 +0200 who-would-benefit-if-switzerland-votes-for-pension-reform In March 2024, Swiss voters approved a move to pay an extra month’s state pension to retirees. If you are still working, how much can you expect to contribute to this scheme? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240820/how-much-will-the-13th-pension-payment-in-switzerland-cost-you Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:17:14 +0200 how-much-will-the-13th-pension-payment-in-switzerland-cost-you Switzerland’s Social Insurance Office had miscalculated projected spending for the old-age pension up to the year 2033: the annual expenditure is likely to be around 4 billion francs less than originally estimated. Why is this mistake sparking widespread criticism? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240808/what-does-switzerlands-huge-pension-fiasco-mean-and-what-happens-next Thu, 08 Aug 2024 13:59:30 +0200 what-does-switzerlands-huge-pension-fiasco-mean-and-what-happens-next The Swiss government said Tuesday it incorrectly projected more than 4 billion francs for pension spending -- calling into question a vote on raising the retirement age for women. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240807/swiss-government-admits-4-billion-franc-pension-projection-error Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:02:39 +0200 swiss-government-admits-4-billion-franc-pension-projection-error Questions about taxes and retirement in Switzerland are among the most common ones for foreign nationals living here. Here is what you should know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240614/reader-question-do-i-have-to-pay-swiss-taxes-on-my-foreign-pension Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:08:24 +0200 reader-question-do-i-have-to-pay-swiss-taxes-on-my-foreign-pension The Swiss Federal Council's planned pension reforms aim to equalise widow and widower pensions - but they also are likely to amount to cuts in survivor benefits. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240329/switzerland-mulls-changes-to-survivor-pensions Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:48:33 +0100 switzerland-mulls-changes-to-survivor-pensions Swiss voters on Sunday overwhelmingly backed a proposal to increase pension payments for retirees. But what happens now? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240304/what-happens-next-after-switzerlands-historic-pension-vote Mon, 04 Mar 2024 12:40:31 +0100 what-happens-next-after-switzerlands-historic-pension-vote