The increase in unemployment to relatively high levels for Switzerland in the 1990s gave rise to two fears: First, that economic growth no longer has any effect on employment (jobless growth), and second, that the equilibrium rate of unemployment, i.e. the rate of employment that prevails even...

For some time now, Swiss trade unions have been demanding a substantial increase of the wages in the lowest income segments, especially in the retail and catering service industries. At present, increases for the sales personell in the retail industry stand in the forefront of trade union...