Leaks In The Federal Council And Useless Childcare Allowances – The Sunday News Leaks In The Federal Council And Useless Childcare Subsidies – The Sunday News

Study: Childcare subsidies are only of limited use

Subsidized day care centers have had no impact on mothers’ employment. This emerged from a study by the Zurich economics professor Josef Zweimüller, as the “NZZ am Sonntag” wrote. To this end, he and his team researched Austrian communities. The reason for the missing effect was social norms. According to Zweimüller, subsidized daycare centers do not solve the child fine. It is bigger in Switzerland than abroad. Ten years after the birth of their first child, Swiss women earn on average 60 percent less than without children. Zweimüller hardly found salary changes for fathers. On 1 March, the National Council will decide whether to extend the childcare allowance.

Parmelin criticizes indiscretions – but sees no influence

According to federal councilor Guy Parmelin, the publication of confidential information in the run-up to a meeting of the Federal Council does not affect the decisions of the Federal Council. It only damages trust in the committee and the reputation of the Federal Council in public, as he said in an interview with “NZZ am Sonntag”. “I even understand that people want to do politics like that.” But it is important that members of the Bundesrat can also come up with bold ideas and discuss them openly. Parmelin sometimes reported to the federal prosecutor’s office after indiscretions. After the recent case of leaked information during the corona pandemic, the mood in the Federal Council is good. “It’s not the first time we’ve seen something like this in government.”

“FDP-Felt”: Civil judges made an important decision

A purely civilian panel of judges has delivered the most consistent rental verdict in recent years along its political stance and subverted politics. Your fundamental judgment in 2020 will enable landlords to enable higher returns and thus higher rents, as the “SonntagsZeitung” wrote. The liberal court president Christina Kiss had explicitly referred in the verdict to a corresponding political initiative by her party colleague Olivier Feller (FDP/VD). To this day, the parliament has not approved the initiative of the National Council. The lack of party representation has long fueled resentment in the left and right camps. For example, in the court responsible for environmental complaints, there are two greens, a green-liberal and a social democrat.

Young Swiss more reluctant to support Ukraine

Young Swiss people were more reluctant than older generations to support military aid to Ukraine. Two thirds of 18 to 35 year olds would like to see more restraint in Switzerland, according to an analysis by the research institute Sotomo commissioned by “SonntagsBlick”. On the other hand, about half of the over-55s were in favor of more support for Ukraine from Switzerland. There was also a gender difference: women were less willing to let Switzerland play an active role in the Ukraine conflict. The majority of men spoke out in favor of arms deliveries and greater Swiss involvement.

Coercive measures in a home for the disabled

In a home for people with disabilities in Savigny (VD), there are allegedly coercive measures, forced prayers and inadequate therapy for the residents. The facility, founded by anthroposophists and fully funded by the canton of Vaud, follows the pedagogical approach of Rudolf Steiner, as the French-language Swiss newspaper “Le Matin Dimanche” wrote. The reporting was based on various anonymous sources and internal documents. For example, baths and massages are offered, but no speech therapy. “Anthroposophy assumes that the mind is not diseased, regardless of disability, and strives to appeal to the healthy nature in every human being,” says the therapy concept. The home’s management assured that the facility was trying to open up to other styles of education. The two largest institutions in the canton for children with severe intellectual disabilities are anthroposophical institutions.

Manuel Bessler is running for Vice President of the Red Cross

The federal government’s top humanitarian, Manuel Bessler, has submitted his candidacy for Vice President of the Swiss Red Cross (SRK). In March, the current deputy of the Federal Council for Humanitarian Aid and deputy director of the Agency for Development and Cooperation will retire and serve the SRC, he told NZZ am Sonntag. According to the newspaper, his election on March 25 is hardly in the way. Bessler enjoys support in the Federal Palace and has an excellent reputation in humanitarian circles. The Vice Presidency is responsible for the area of ​​international cooperation.

Red Bull and Pepsi do not want a sugar cut

The energy drink company Red Bull and the soft drink maker Pepsico have not signed up to Switzerland’s voluntary sugar reduction targets. Should their lack of contribution jeopardize the objectives of the Milan Declaration, the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary Service (FSVO) would investigate regulatory action. The BLV wrote the “NZZ am Sonntag” on request. Red Bull decided not to sign because the amount of sugar in the drink adds to its functionality, the company told the “SonntagsZeitung”. There was no response from Pepsico, the maker of Pepsi and Seven-Up. With the “Milan Declaration”, the industry has committed itself to reduce the sugar content by ten percent in 2024 compared to 2021. The total sugar across all manufacturers is relevant.

Only a minority of Swiss companies have withdrawn from Russia

According to a list by the American University of Yale, 18 of the 53 Swiss companies have completely withdrawn from Russia since the beginning of the war. The list included 1,300 international companies and non-governmental organizations, as the “SonntagsZeitung” wrote. 14 Swiss companies have temporarily suspended their business. 9 significantly reduced trades and 8 played ahead of time. 4 companies continued as before. For example, Ems-Chemie boss Magdalena Martullo-Blocher has detained two factories in Russia. “I don’t want to leave the works to the Russian state,” she told the Sunday newspaper. Conversely, Russian companies have also reoriented themselves in Switzerland. According to the newspaper, the sanctions have made the ownership structure of many companies less transparent.

By moving: CEO bank saved almost a million

Philipp Rickenbacher, CEO of Bank Julius Baer, ​​saved an estimated CHF 885,000 in income tax by moving from Bülach ZH to Wollerau SZ. “SonntagsBlick” also sent the gross salary of Thomas Hasler, CEO of Sika, for 2021 through the federal tax office’s tax calculator. According to the calculations, he saved CHF 330,000 by moving from Birmensdorf ZH to Risch ZG. In contrast, the savings of Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan appear petty. With a gross salary of CHF 914,700 in 2021, he saved CHF 80,000 in income tax by moving from Küsnacht ZH to the city of Zug. (sda)