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Large housing shortage in Switzerland

Until recently, Switzerland feared a property bubble. But now there is an acute shortage in the housing market. Due to immigration and the trend towards smaller apartments, Switzerland is growing by about 55,000 households every year. as the “NZZ am Sonntag” writes. At the same time, the number of building applications fell to a 25-year low. As a result, some 51,000 apartments will be missing in 2026, according to real estate consultancy Wüst Partner. That is about as many apartments as in the city of Lucerne. Switzerland is thus heading for its largest deficit in more than 30 years.

Cassis and Parmelin spat about the ammunition supply to Qatar

While Switzerland prohibits other countries from passing ammunition to Ukraine and does not even supply protective vests to Kiev itself, it also exports fighter jet ammunition to Qatar. The deal with the desert dictatorship caused controversy behind the scenes. This is evidenced by internal documents available to the “SonntagsBlick”. Accordingly, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis categorically opposed the approval of the delivery by Guy Parmelin’s economics department. The FDFA warned that the exports would undermine Switzerland’s policy of neutrality and add to the instability of the Gulf region. In February 2022, the FDFA wrote in a confidential position paper: “An export of offensive war material to a country that has been directly involved in regional conflicts in recent years and continues to support armed groups (…) would undermine Switzerland’s credibility as a neutral , humanitarian actor in danger.”

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6 Swiss on US sanctions list because of Russia

On the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the US Treasury Department released the new sanctions list. The names of six Swiss citizens and two Swiss companies are also on it, the “SonntagsZeitung” reports. One of these persons, an Italian-Swiss dual national, is accused of supplying equipment to the Russian secret service and the Russian army with the help of the other persons and companies. The six Swiss are now considered a “threat to national security” by the United States. Three of them have already been targeted by Swiss justice.

The shortage of skilled workers also affects daycare centers

While the demand for outside care is growing, Swiss nurseries have to reduce the number of places, close groups or, in extreme cases, go out of business. The reason for this is the lack of skilled labor among the caregivers. As the “NZZ am Sonntag” reports, more and more cantons are reaching the call for help. In the canton of Zug, every third daycare center that wants to fill a vacancy has to look for a replacement for more than six months. About 80 percent of facilities in Solothurn are affected by an acute shortage of skilled workers, according to the regional Kita Association. In Lucerne, nurseries are already being forced to recruit their staff from abroad. The association Kibesuisse speaks of a “very acute shortage of personnel” in a large part of German-speaking Switzerland.

Counter study: Subsidies for day care centers contribute to the advancement of women

The National Council Education Commission wants to ensure that more federal funds go to childcare. One of the arguments: if daycare becomes cheaper, working mothers will be more inclined to supplement their low work pressure. However, a recently published study, reported by the “NZZ am Sonntag”, casts doubt on this. However, other studies have come to the opposite conclusion. Two recently published studies investigate the consequences of expanding the range of care. In one case, economists examined the effect of creating 800 additional nurseries in Neuchâtel. The study found that the equivalent of 2,000 women increased their labor force participation rate from 30 to 60, as “SonntagsBlick” writes.

ETHs: soon a numerus fixus for foreigners?

Lecture halls are slowly becoming cramped: the number of students at the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and Lausanne is growing every year. Last year, the two universities had about 37,000 students, half of them from abroad. Now the governing body of the ETH is taking action: “The ETH board will discuss the admission requirements for foreign students, i.e. discuss the admission requirements for foreign students,” says Gian-Andri Casutt, head of communications, according to the “NZZ ben Sonntag”. One possible measure is a numerus fixus for foreign students. Also conceivable are higher tuition fees for foreign women or determining an average grade that they must achieve if they want to study at ETH.

Lebanese bank boss deposited $300 million in Swiss banks

On Thursday, Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh, his brother Raja and assistant Marianne Hoayek were charged in Beirut with alleged money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, tax evasion and document forgery. 300 to 500 million dollars ended up in the accounts of twelve Swiss banks, writes the “SonntagsZeitung”. The Salameh case is one of the most spectacular criminal cases in the country. The case has international dimensions because most of the money ended up in accounts with twelve Swiss banks. About $250 million went to Raja Salameh’s personal account at the HSBC branch in Geneva. Further funds ended up with UBS, Credit Suisse, Julius Baer, ​​EFG and Pictet.

SP politicians are the biggest chair gluers

The Social Democratic MPs have held their seats on the federal councils the longest. That was the finding of the newspaper “Le Matin Dimanche”, which surveyed all French-speaking Swiss parliamentarians eight months before the federal parliamentary elections in October 2023. The SP representatives come to an average of 8.5 years. In second place is the SVP with 7.2 years. The third-placed FDP has an average seniority of 5.4 years, just ahead of the middle one (5.1 years). At the other end of the ranking, just behind the Greens (4.1 years), the Green Liberals have the fewest years of service at an average of 3.3 years.

The housing shortage is now also affecting large corporations

The housing shortage in the cities has worsened to the point that it now also affects large companies that rely on foreign workers. So writes the “SonntagsZeitung”. Supporting expats in finding housing has become much more difficult for the Sulzer industry group in recent years “due to the lack of housing in the Zurich area”, according to a spokesman. At the technology company Siemens, finding an apartment for new employees in Switzerland has not become any easier due to the low vacancy rate, confirms spokesperson Marc Estermann. Commodity trader Glencore said it has become more difficult to find an apartment in Zug and Zurich.

BMW warning: Swiss company wants to export cars to Russia

A few days ago, BMW Switzerland sent a drastic warning to all dealers and contract partners in the country: a company in the canton of Schwyz and the owner bought the S 7 and X 7 models of luxury cars to bring them to Russia. However, this is a violation of the sanctions rules and anyone who participates risks fines of up to 500,000 francs or imprisonment. The “SonntagsZeitung” confirmed BMW’s warning: We know of two cars that have already reached Russia from Switzerland. Two more are on the way and 20 more are on order. However, the delivery of these vehicles is prevented. The accused company from Schwyz replies that the cars are destined for the Baltic states as part of a new luxury car rental system, but that not a single car has been sold to Russia.

Financial chaos and mismanagement on construction sites on the Valais highway

Another case of mismanagement at the motorway construction site in Upper Valais came to light this week. An investigation by the “SonntagsZeitung” now shows that there were also irregularities in the settlement at the Goler landfill near Raron, where excavated material from the tunnel construction of the A9 was stored. According to Astra, the amount involved is 5 to 8 million francs. The canton now has until the end of April to reclaim the money. However, it is difficult to prove the criminal nature of the loopholes: it is not unusual in the construction industry for there to be no reliable evidence for these crimes. The new irregularities are confirmed in the canton of Valais. As it is an ongoing matter, they declined to comment further.

“Kitchen King” Edgar Oehler hands over in charge

He built a real empire with the Arbonia-Forster group, caused a sensation as a CVP member of the National Council with a visit to Saddam Hussein and was removed from power with a roar. Now one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs is retiring: as the “SonntagsZeitung” writes, Edgar Oehler, who will turn 81 on March 2, has handed over the management of his company STI Group, a world leader in surface finishing, to one of his four daughters, Andrea Oehler, resigned. Edgar Oehler remains chairman of the board of directors and, together with his wife Marianne Oehler, sole owner of the company. From 1985 onwards, Oehler rose to become the “kitchen king”, first as general manager of Arbonia Forster, later as chairman of the board, head of the group and majority shareholder with an absolute majority of votes. (sda)