"All modifications occurring in Switzerland during May 2025"
CELEBRATING MAY 1ST: LABOUR DAY IN SWITZERLAND
Just like many other nations, Switzerland is gearing up to celebrate Labor Day on May 1st, but unlike the Labor Day in the United States (which happens on the first Monday of September), Switzerland's Labor Day has no connection.
In Switzerland, Labor Day is also known as International Workers' Day and May Day, mainly celebrated by trade unions and left-wing groups. However, it's not a public holiday across Switzerland; it's celebrated in some cantons but not all. The cantons where Labor Day is celebrated include Zurich, Basel-City, Basel-Country, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and Ticino. In Aargau and Solothurn, people usually get a half day off from noon.
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST (ESC) FROM MAY 13TH TO 17TH
Basel will be the epicenter of Europe's largest song competition, The Eurovision, following Switzerland's artist Nemo's victory in last year's edition. The contest, slated to be staged at St. Jakobshalle in the Munchenstein district on the edge of Basel, comes with a hefty price tag of 35 million francs, approved in a local referendum.
Switzerland's national railway company (SBB) will put 85 additional trains into operation to transport Eurovision spectators to and from Basel for the concerts.
CANTONAL REFERENDUMS ON MAY 18TH
Although there are no federal votes scheduled for May 18th, some cantons will hold their own referendums. Here's a glimpse:
Aargau:The initiative 'Equal Pay in the Canton of Aargau - Now!' calls for stricter gender pay analysis than the mandate by federal law. Currently, Swiss firms with 100 or more employees must provide gender wage analysis. The Aargau initiative aims to extend this requirement to companies with at least 50 employees.
Zurich:A proposed amendment to the tax law seeks to lower corporate income taxes by 1 percent. The goal behind this move is to make Zurich more alluring for companies and, consequently, create more jobs.
Basel-City:The initiative 'Safe Cycling Routes' proposes wide, well-marked bicycle priority routes, along with safe crossings for bikes and pedestrians on public roads.
Geneva:The initiative focuses on a more rapid transition to solar energy, aiming to make the installation of photovoltaic panels on suitable roofs and facades mandatory, with a target of complete deployment by 2035.
No specific cantonal referendums have been scheduled for May 2025, but consult official cantonal websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
TRAVEL NEWS
Trains: From May 8th to May 10th, EC trains between Zurich and Munich will experience a disruption on the Lindau-Munich route due to track renewal. During this period, a change to regional services in Lindau will be necessary.
Planes: EasyJet flights from Zurich to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, will begin on May 1st.
Stay tuned for more travel news and updates on new flights from Swiss airports this Spring 2025.
In Switzerland, Labor Day, also known as International Workers' Day and May Day, is mainly celebrated by trade unions and left-wing groups, even though it's not a public holiday across the country. Some cantons where Labor Day is celebrated include Zurich and Basel-City.
Basel will be the center of Europe's largest song competition, The Eurovision, from May 13th to 17th, following Switzerland's artist Nemo's victory in last year's edition. The contest comes with a hefty price tag of 35 million francs, approved in a local referendum.
Switzerland's cantons, such as Aargau and Zurich, will hold their own referendums on May 18th. For instance, the Aargau referendum aims to extend the requirement for gender wage analysis to companies with at least 50 employees, while Zurich proposes a lower corporate income tax to attract more companies and create more jobs.
In Geneva, an initiative focuses on a more rapid transition to solar energy, aiming to make the installation of photovoltaic panels on suitable roofs and facades mandatory, with a target of complete deployment by 2035.
Travelers should be aware of disruptions on EC trains between Zurich and Munich from May 8th to May 10th due to track renewal. On the other hand, EasyJet flights from Zurich to Edinburgh will begin on May 1st.
