Football player can’t get Swiss citizenship due to traffic infractions; labour agreements will take precedence over cantonal minimum wages; and more news in our Wednesday roundup.
Football player can’t get Swiss citizenship due to traffic infractions
Vaud native Cameron Puertas, 27, who currently plays football for Germany’s Werder Bremen, will not be playing on Swiss team in the World Cup this summer.
Though he was born in Lausanne, he has Spanish nationality and FIFA rules mandate that a player must hold the nationality of the country they represent.
However, two past traffic infractions prevent him from becoming Swiss before 2029, Swiss media reported on Tuesday.
In 2017, Puertas was stopped by police while driving with a suspended license, and in 2019, he was caught in a car that had someone else’s registration plates.
He has to wait until the latest offence is expunged in 2029 before applying for naturalisation.
Collective labour agreements (CLAs) will take precedence over cantonal minimum wages
Following the National Council, the Council of States also approved a proposal to this effect on Tuesday.
Currently, a CLA (also called a collective bargaining agreement) can only be extended if it doesn’t conflict with federal or cantonal law.
The proposal aims to change the current practice, setting minimum wages in CLAs.
MPs also ruled out any pay cuts that would reduce salaries below the current minimum wage in the cantons where these thresholds exist.
READ MORE: What is a Swiss collective bargaining agreement — and how could it benefit you?
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Switzerland’s energy supply is not at risk
The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has led to higher energy prices and is already having a significant impact on global energy supplies.
However, Switzerland’s supply is currently secure, the Federal Council announced on Tuesday.
“In the event of a declared or imminent severe shortage, pre-prepared measures, such as the release of mandatory reserves, will be implemented,” the government added.
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Travel updates: SWISS extends suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, adds an alternative route to Asia
“Due to the current situation in the Middle East and the associated significant restrictions on air traffic, SWISS will suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv until and including April 9th,” the company said on Tuesday.
However, as many travellers have to change their original travel plans and are looking for alternative routes to Asia, “the demand is currently high for the existing SWISS connections between Delhi and Zurich, which are already largely fully booked,” the airline said.
In response, the national airline will operate, between March 19th and 24th, a second daily service to the Indian city – an addition to the already existing one.
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