LIVING AND WORKING IN SWITZERLAND

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1 LIVING AND WORKING IN SWITZERLAND

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3 INDEX 1. LIVING IN SWITZERLAND 2. WORKING IN SWITZERLAND 3. THE TICINO REGION 3.1 GENERAL INFO 3.2 QUALITY OF LIFE 3.3 BUSINESS SECTORS 3.4 EDUCATION & RESEARCH

4 LIVING IN SWITZERLAND GENERAL INFORMATION Switzerland, which is home to two cities in the top five worldwide considered the best in terms of quality of life (Zürich 1st, Geneva 4th), is geographically positioned in the hearth of Europe and is bordered by Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Germany. The Swiss nature is breathtaking, with some of Europe s highest peaks, largest glaciers, deepest valleys and most beautiful mountain lakes imaginable and all of this accessible within an hour from most of the major cities. CULTURE Switzerland has a rich and diverse culture, with influences coming from all four official languages and cultures German (65%), French (20%), Italian (10%) and Romansch. The Swiss speak German in their own strong dialect known as Swiss German. The Swiss are multilingual and a high proportion of them speak English too. In terms of Religion, 46% of the population is Roman Catholic, 40% is Protestant, 9% is non-denominational and the remaining 5% covers other religions. LIVING COSTS Switzerland has a reputation for being an expensive country; however, a recent survey found that people living in Switzerland were afforded the highest purchasing power in the world! This is possible because despite the cost of living, Switzerland has the highest annual per-capita income in the world. In addition, taxes and social insurances are significantly lower than in most other European countries. In reality, the overall cost of living in Switzerland thus is less than many other well known European or Overseas main cities. ACCOMODATION The Swiss real estate market offers a broad choice of real estate to either purchase or rent. Residential areas, in city centers or in the suburbs, are not overcrowded and offer comfort and convenience. Compared with the purchasing power assured by the salary levels in Switzerland, the cost of living seems reasonable with regard to other European countries. The foreign citizens have to sign a contract before moving in, and usually pay a deposit into a blocked account. The notice periods vary but are usually three months and can only given at certain times of the year; however if you find someone suitable to taker over the lease this is normally accepted outside of these times. LEISURE Nature lovers and physical exercise enthusiasts have mountains and lakes at their disposition all year-round. Towns and villages alike with numerous sports associations and clubs offer a large number of activities to satisfy any demand: football, skiing, golfing, mountaineering, hockey, sailing, biking and horseback riding, are just a few of the sports available. 1.

5 WORKING IN SWITZERLAND GENERAL INFORMATION Switzerland is renowned for its production of high-quality goods and services. The key sectors are agriculture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food production, manufacturing ( metal work, appliances, machinery, watches ), tourism, banking and insurance, tax consulting. Switzerland has a restrictive policy regarding foreign labour. However, the country lacks highly qualified professionals across a range of science-intensive industries, including IT, engineering, and medical services. As a result, the restrictions imposed on the employment of foreign labour, especially executives and certain specialists, have been eased in recent years. Part-time work is on the increase, particularly among women. WORK PERMITS and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS To work legally in Switzerland you need an official approval from the authorities (i.e. Work Permit). Please note that the procedures may vary from Canton to Canton. Your permit will be approved by the relevant authorities providing all the necessary conditions of the process are fulfilled. New rules governing permits were implemented as a result of the Bi-Lateral agreements between Switzerland and Europe. The main features of this agreement benefit European nationals. If you have a spouse and family, it is possible to apply for a residency permit for them, although this may not necessarily allow your spouse to work. Foreigners who visit Switzerland for less than three months - without taking up employment -do not require a permit, although depending on your nationality you may need a Visa. These visitors may not exceed a total of six months residence a year. Preference is given to EU Nationals above citizens from anywhere else in the world; a minimum education level is no longer mandatory and the permit approval has been simplified and now occurs more quickly. Copies of valid passport and an employment contract are the sole documents required to get a regular permit. For all NON EU citizens strict criteria applies (education, salary, experience); permit approval can take between 4-6 weeks. The following documents (copy of) are needed to get a permit: CV, valid passport, employment contract, degree and/or any education certificate. If you are married and your family will accompany you, you also need to provide both marriage certificate and children s birth certificates. THE SWISS TAX SYSTEM (Key Points) All foreigners residing and working in Switzerland (unless considered a permanent resident with a C Permit of married to a Swiss Citizen) are taxed at source on a monthly basis by their own employer. Tax is levied at three levels in Switzerland: Federal (20%); Cantonal & Communal (80%). As each canton is governed autonomously, rates may vary from Canton to Canton. Tax is due in your canton of residence, which is usually the same as your place of work if you hold a work permit. Although Switzerland is an expensive country, tax rates are lower than most European countries. Tax tables are used to calculate contributions and these are directly related to marital status, number of children and income. Tax levels increase proportionately with your income. 2.

6 THE TICINO REGION 3.1 GENERAL INFO The Ticino Region, with an area of sq.km, or 6.8% of the total area of Switzerland and a population of about , is the only Swiss Canton entirely situated south of the Alps. With an history, culture, language and dialects merging with those of nearby regions of Italy, the Ticino has been the natural gateway to Northern Italy and a very important transit route between Northern and Southern Europe, ever since the first European commercial traffic developed. The population is highly trained, multi-lingual and lending itself to interact with foreign entrepreneurs. The major towns of the Canton Ticino are Lugano, Locarno, Bellinzona, Chiasso and Mendrisio. The Ticino is characterized by an economic policy favorable to entrepreneurs and an efficient and flexible public administration. Thanks to its geographical and strategical location and tanks to the conditions aimed to encourage the restoration and renewal of the cantonal economy, the Ticino today is able to effectively compete to become a first-class entrepreneurial center. The Ticino may offers highly competitive work conditions. As a matter of fact, Switzerland places number one in Europe for average work hours and is one of the last nations in lost working hours. The recent events and trends in the economic and political areas call for an ever closer collaboration and mutual recognition between the Italian part of Switzerland and the Lombardy. 3.1

7 THE TICINO REGION 3.2 QUALITY OF LIFE Open Culture, assurance of rights and stable system, one of the world s most modern infrastructures, centrally located and on lines of communication; a safe country with excellent health care. The Ticino Region offering a vast variety of cultural and sports manifestations and a calendar full of events throughout the year. The Ticino is host to some events of International importance, such as the Jazz Festival of Lugano or the Film Festival of Locarno, as well as many others - less known - but nevertheless of great interest that celebrate various seasonal events. Nature lovers and physical exercise enthusiasts have mountains and lakes at their disposition all year-round. Towns and villages alike with numerous sports associations and clubs offer a large number of activities to satisfy any demand: football, skiing, golfing, mountaineering, hockey, sailing, biking and horseback riding, are just a few of the sports available. The Swiss real estate market offers a broad choice of accommodation to either purchase or rent. Residential areas, in city centers or in the suburbs, are not overcrowded and offer comfort and convenience. Compared with the purchasing power assured by the salary levels in Switzerland, the cost of living seems reasonable with regard to other European countries. The availability of high quality medical specialists as well as renowned clinics and public institutions equipped with the latest medical technologies make the Swiss public health system one of the best in the world. A dense network of public and private hospitals offers everyone access to health care. Approximately 10% of the Gross National Product is spent on public health care. 3.2

8 THE TICINO REGION 3.3 BUSINESS SECTORS ( TRADING & MANUFACTURING ) APPAREL, FASHION, LUXURY GOODS What was once an industry mainly geared for the domestic market, today exports approximately the 3/4 of the entire production, primarily concentrated on high-end fashion and innovative textiles. The sector has applied itself on two different fronts: the traditional small-medium size companies and the big multinational groups, prestigious brands of the fashion and luxury goods sector, which recently established their own headquarters in Ticino. BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES At the cantonal level, the last few years have seen the most important growth in biomedical technology companies. The companies in this sector are particularly open to innovation and investing sizeable resources in R&D, as widely demonstrated by the considerable number of patents, certifications and accreditations to be proud of. In Ticino there also exist some research centers and laboratories in support of technological innovation, such as the IRB (Institute of Research in Biomedicine), the CSCS (the Swiss Center of Scientific Computation), the CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing Institute) and Biopolo Ticino. CHEMICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL The chemical/pharmaceutical industry in Ticino comprises companies that perform the whole range of macro-activities: the production of active components, the development of formulations, and clinical testing. In addition to that, there are the pharmaceutical companies, a good part of them FDA certified. MANUFACTURING The manufacturing sector in Ticino is represented by companies of the electrical mechanical machinery and equipment industry, metallurgy and mechanics fields. The local industrial sector is composed of companies - very well worldwide recognized - which basically operates in an internationally highly competitive arena, but very well positioned in the high-value niche market. Manufacturing of the Ticino Region enterprises is substantially covering all sector branches: electronic components, optics, measuring instruments and devices used in the watchmaking and medical fields, etc. TRADING The professionalism of the traders, their specific know-how and experience are fundamental prerogatives for their success; no less important are the financial relations with banking institutions, which has become the most important partners of the companies operating in this sector, basically for commercially activities in the field of steel, coal and general ferrous materials. 3.3

9 THE TICINO REGION 3.3 BUSINESS SECTORS ( SERVICES & CONSULTING INDUSTRIES ) BANKING, FINANCIAL and INSURANCE Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world with such a deeply rooted banking tradition. Swiss banks are the world leaders in international asset management. This sector, together the Insurance one, constitutes the most important economic branch in the Ticino Region, where it has dramatically grown over the last thirty years and has become the third most important financial place in Switzerland, following Zürich and Geneva. Banks in Switzerland manage almost a third of the global private assets invested abroad. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS In the last twenty years the ICT sector, acronym of Information and Communication Technology, has known a quickly grown which has positively engraved on the evolution of the local productivity. Currently there are several firms, mainly of small-medium sizes, - with an average of the respective foundation date stated at origins of the new millennium -, characterized by a very high dynamism and a great potential for further development. LOGISTICS The Ticino region, thanks to its geographic position on one of the major arteries of transportation between northern and southern Europe, has ever had a special interest in logistics. In particular, the area of Mendrisio has the highest concentration of enterprises in this sector, with a complete range of services. The political stability, the vast availability and dissemination of information and communication technologies, the professionalism of fiduciary and insurance services, the dependability of the customs administration in understanding the industry s needs are the strong and relevant key points attributed to the Ticino as base for a very good logistics offer. TAX PLANNING and CONSULTING A further economic sector very important in the Ticino Region is represented by independent companies which usually operates in the portfolio management, the real estate management or in the tax planning and consulting, either for private individuals and corporate entities, domestic or international, by providing basically accounting and administration services, legal assistance, hereditary succession, incorporation of offshore mutual funds, setting up of family foundations and trusts, or incorporation and management of companies, in Switzerland and abroad. 3.3

10 THE TICINO REGION 3.4 EDUCATION & RESEARCH The Ticino has an own university system. In Lugano is located the Università della Svizzera Italiana ( USI ), offering courses in economics, communication sciences, architecture and computer sciences. In Ticino also exists the SUPSI ( Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana ), which is offering teaching courses with practical applications. Important research centers are: the CIM Institute ( Computer Integrated Manufacturing ) of the Svizzera Italiana, the Centro Svizzero di Calcolo Scientifico, the Institute Dalla Molle per l intelligenza artificiale and the Institute of Research in Biomedicine. 3.4

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