Further job cuts are announced in Switzerland; a 250,000-tonne block of glacier ice threatens collapse into a village below; plus other news in our roundup this Friday.
Swiss companies continue to cut jobs
Shortly after the food delivery service Just-East announced it would be cutting ‘hundreds’ of jobs in Switzerland due to restructuring, watch manufacturer Zenith also said it is planning to cut around 100 positions at its production facility in Le Locle, Neuchâtel – about half of its total workforce.
The company cited reasons such as a sluggish export-oriented sector, as well as its planned “strategic repositioning” toward high-end watchmaking.
Don’t miss our journalists’ daily news roundup from Switzerland
A 250,000-tonne block of ice threatens collapse
The mass is currently hanging precariously on the slope of the Weisshorn glacier, above the community of Randa in Valais, pushing down the valley at a rate of up to 20 cm per day,
Authorities warn that if a significant layer of snow accumulates on the plateau, the collapse of this block could trigger an avalanche which would thunder down into the village.
This unstable mass remains even after the collapse of approximately 200,000 cubic metres of ice from the same glacier in the summer.
Burglary rates in Switzerland are soaring
In 2025, AXA insurance recorded a 4-percent increase in burglaries, paying out 9 percent more in claims compared to the previous year.
However, these figures fluctuate significantly depending on the region and the month, the insurer said in a report released on Thursday.
It found that the risks are highest in Geneva during the months of November and December.
Residents of Vaud, Basel-City and Basel-Country, as well as Jura, Solothurn, and Neuchâtel, were also targeted by thieves more frequently than the average.
In Central Switzerland and the southeast, by contrast, the risk of theft is minimal.
Zurich residents to pay more for ‘blue zone’ parking next year
From January 2027, the City Council is introducing new – and more expensive – parking permits for residential buildings.
While they previously cost 300 francs per year, the new price will be upwards of 500 francs.
It will be calculated based on the vehicle’s weight: owners of heavy, gasoline-powered SUVs, for instance, could end up paying nearly 1,000 francs to park their vehicle in the street.
READ MORE: What are Switzerland’s complicated parking rules?
Ahead this weekend:
Daylight Savings Time will end on Sunday, October 25th, when clocks move backward by one hour at 3 am to 2 am.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
