As a consequence, many people are afraid to claim financial help. For example, some pensioners refuse top-up payments for this reason, say elderly rights groups.
Speaking at the Bern conference, Swiss Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said welfare payments should be a right for Swiss residents.
Poverty should not be considered a crime, she added.
Parliament is currently debating whether to revoke the welfare condition for residency, but the two chambers have failed to agree on this motion.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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‘Fear of being forced to leave Switzerland is growing’
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Many immigrants have been hard hit by the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. New regulations mean that many fear taking welfare.
Integration becomes key factor for residency permits
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Parliament decided on Monday to revise the ‘foreigners law’, firstly by renaming it the ‘foreigners and integration law’. The changes mean that long-term residency C-permitsExternal link will be only be given to people who respect public security and order, uphold the values of the federal constitution, contribute to the economy or take part in training…
Many struggling pensioners reluctant to request state benefits
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Around 230,000 elderly in Switzerland do not receive the supplementary benefits they are entitled to, a rights group says.
Swiss court backs residency request of welfare recipient
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The Federal Administrative Court has overturned the decision of the State Secretariat for Migration to refuse residence permits to the children of a foreigner who received social assistance while studying in Switzerland.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.