Through Imogen FoulkesBBC Information, Geneva5 hours agoImage supply, AFP by means of Getty ImagesImage caption, Supporters of the additional pension around the nation – like on this photograph from Bern – celebrated the referendum’s resultsSwiss electorate have given themselves an additional month’s pension each and every yr – in a national referendum specializing in dwelling requirements for the aged. The federal government had warned that the larger bills can be too dear to find the money for.However nearly 60% of electorate mentioned ‘sure’ in Sunday’s ballot. One after the other, 75% rejected elevating the pension age from 65 to 66.The utmost per thirty days state pension is €2,550 (£2,180; $2,760) – now not sufficient, many say, to survive in Switzerland.Medical health insurance premiums, that are mandatory for everybody, were emerging rapid, and older folks every so often fight to pay them.Ladies who will have had paintings breaks to lift a circle of relatives, and immigrants recruited many years in the past to paintings in Swiss factories, eating places, or hospitals, can to find it in particular tough to make ends meet. Increasingly more persons are operating into their 70s now not out of selection, however out of necessity. In the meantime a few of the more youthful era, paintings comparable rigidity and burnout are expanding. The proposal to extend pensions got here from the trades unions – however was once adverse by way of the Swiss govt, parliament, and trade leaders, who argued it was once unaffordable. Electorate in Switzerland continuously take their govt’s recommendation about cash issues: a couple of years in the past they in truth rejected an additional week’s vacation a yr. This time they mentioned sufficient was once sufficient, the usage of the ability that Switzerland’s gadget of direct democracy offers them to vote themselves an additional month’s pension each and every yr. The initiative additionally secured the desired double-majority: getting the preferred vote, and in addition majorities in many of the nation’s 26 cantons.The end result was once described as a “historical victory for retirees” by way of Avivo, a Swiss affiliation that defends the rights of present and long term pensioners.The transfer brings the state pension into line with Switzerland’s wage gadget, which could also be paid in 13 instalments, which means employees get a double cost in November. The gadget was once at the start designed to assist folks forward of Christmas, and the yearly tax invoice. As Swiss retirees identified, pensions had been taxed too, and Christmas amusing didn’t prevent at 65. In an additional signal the Swiss are prepared that lifestyles must now not be all paintings and no play, additionally they overwhelmingly rejected elevating the retirement age.Those votes would, the federal government mentioned time and again, should be paid for. Electorate, despite the fact that, having a look at Switzerland booming economic system, whose luck is largely because of their laborious paintings, obviously consider their nation can find the money for it.
