Switzerland today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

are you a fan of paying in cash or do you prefer swiping your card for purchases?

Cash is king in Switzerland but not by much as the convenience of cards and apps for payments increases. Some worry that we’re headed towards a cashless society. Libertarians want cash payments to be enshrined into the constitution.

This content was published on August 30, 2023 - 18:00

3 minutes

Swissinfo.ch's India specialist covers a wide range of issues from bilateral relations to Bollywood. He also knows a thing or two about Swiss watchmaking and is partial to the French-speaking part of Switzerland. 

Cash in constitution: Government feels the pressure

The government has proposed a draft lawExternal link as a counterproposal to the popular initiative of the Swiss libertarian movement calling for constitutional guarantees on the use of cash. While the government rejected the initiative on the grounds that the text was not precise enough, it did accept to enshrine the protection of cash payments in the Swiss constitution.

According to the latest Swiss Payment Monitor, cash is once again the most widely used means of payment in Switzerland. After almost two years, cash is now just ahead of debit cards. In total, 29% of daily payments are made in cash.

Another Swiss village on tenterhooks over landslides

After Brienz, it is the turn of the village of Schwanden in canton Glarus to be hit by landslidesExternal link. According to the police, more than half a dozen houses were destroyed or buried Tuesday evening. No one was injured. Buildings located in the landslide zone have been evacuated and access to the surrounding area is forbidden. Evacuations have also taken place in the wider catchment area.

The night remained relatively calm. However, the situation remains unstable and further landslides could occur.

Swiss industry struggling due to strong franc

While the sector’s revenues remained at the level of the first half of 2022 (0.7%), exports fell by 1.1%. New orders fell by 9.6%, leaving little room for optimism in the months ahead, Swissmem reported on Tuesday in an interim report.

Among the sectors, exports fell sharply in metals (-9.0%), while they remained at the previous year’s level in precision instruments (-0.4%) and rose in electrical engineering and electronics (1.9%) and in mechanical engineering (1.0%).

The survey of industry leaders reflects this gloomy outlook. Over the next twelve months, 37% of companies expect to see a decline in orders placed from abroad.

Best tofu in Switzerland

Long before meat alternatives landed on supermarket shelves, the humble tofu was a meal saviour for vegans and vegetarians. High in protein and low in fats it is also favoured by the health conscious.

In Switzerland prices vary widely from CHF0.44 to CHF2.46 per 100gm, according to an SRF analysis. So, how do you get the best tasting tofu for your money in Switzerland? Here is some market intelligenceExternal link that can help.

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