Swiss vote to give themselves a bigger pension - BBC News

Majority votes for a '13th month' payment to address a cost of living crisis, but the government says it could not afford it.

21 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, Supporters of the extra pension across the country - like in this photo from Bern - celebrated the referendum's resultsBy Imogen FoulkesBBC News, GenevaSwiss voters have given themselves an extra month's pension each year - in a nationwide referendum focusing on living standards for the elderly.

The government had warned that the increased payments would be too expensive to afford.

But almost 60% of voters said 'yes' in Sunday's poll. Separately, 75% rejected raising the pension age from 65 to 66.

The maximum monthly state pension is €2,550 (£2,180; $2,760) - not enough, many say, to live on in Switzerland.

The cost of living in Switzerland, particularly in cities such as Zurich and Geneva, is among the highest in the world.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68463978

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