A record number of foreign CEOs work in Swiss companies; e-ID will be put to a referendum again; and more news in our roundup on Tuesday.
‘Unprecedented’ number of foreign nationals work in management positions in Switzerland
The latest Schilling report, which has been collecting data on the composition of the executive boards of 100 largest Swiss companies, found that the proportion of foreigners in corporate management in Switzerland — 49 percent — “has never been higher” than currently.
In terms of new hires only, the proportion of non-Swiss is even higher: according to the report, it now stands at 63 percent.
Concurrently, there a “significant decline” of Swiss nationals in top management positions within the country’s largest companies, such as Nestlé, Roche, Novartis, and Zurich Insurance, all of which ‘imported’ their CEOs from abroad.
READ ALSO: Why Swiss employers are eager to hire US professionals
Switzerland will have to vote on e-ID — again
The Swiss will have to cast their ballots once more on the introduction of electronic identity cards.
The referendum committee has collected more than 60,000 signatures against the project — more than the 50,000 required for a national vote.
As a reminder, voters had rejected an initial e-ID proposal at the ballot box in 2021, with concerns over its data protection being the main ‘anti’ argument.
The Federal Council then proposed a new, more secure concept, to be launched in 2026.
However, the populist groups who have spearheaded the referendum, reiterated their opposition at a press conference on Monday, stressing that the introduction of electronic identity posed a serious threat to citizens’ freedoms.
“It provides the basis for extensive surveillance and control, and opens the door to restricting our fundamental rights,” they claim.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about Switzerland’s future ‘electronic-ID
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Housing crisis hits Swiss Alps
Finding affordable accommodations in and around large cities has been a problem in Switzerland, and now the shortage has reached a “worrying” level in some of the country’s mountain areas as well.
The vacancy rate in all tourist municipalities, which stood at 2 percent in 2018, has now fallen to 0.8 percent.
“Young families have to leave because there is nothing affordable in their own communiy,” said Thomas Egger, director of the Swiss Association for Mountain Regions (SAB).
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SWISS is expanding its overhead compartments
From the end of 2025, the national airline will equip some of its cabins with larger overhead compartments to accommodate increasing number of passengers traveling with carry-on luggage only.
Eight Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft will be fitted with more spacious overhead compartments, measuring 60x38x25 cm.
The newer A320neo and A321neo aircraft are already equipped with larger compartments.
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