Introduction
Living costs in Switzerland are relatively high. The prices of certain
consumer staples are significantly higher than the average of the EU Member
States. You will also find that health insurance premiums for private households
can be very high.
Remuneration levels
However, in Switzerland it is not only living costs that reach the level of
the most expensive EU Member States: the same applies to wages and salaries. A
comparative international study by the UBS Bank conducted in 2000 shows that, of
the world’s cities found to have higher gross incomes than others when all
vocational categories are lumped together, the two Swiss economic centres of
Zurich and Geneva in fact head the list.
Remuneration levels vary appreciably from one economic sector to another. In
certain sectors – such as finance and insurance – pay rose sharply during the
boom years. Since then, however, there has been a downward correction. In terms
of the average for all sectors of the economy, wages and salaries are found to
have risen only slightly since the beginning of the 1990s.
Remuneration system
Wages and salaries in Switzerland are currently still determined on the basis
of seniority. However, employers in both the public and the private sector are
now switching increasingly to a system of performance-related pay. Women’s pay
is in general lower than men’s irrespective of qualification level, but
politicians and the social partners are working hard to eliminate these
differences.
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.
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