Grenzen
Frontières
Borders
1/2016
Inhalt
4
Editorial
Aktuell
Grenzen – die Schweiz und ihre
Grenzgänger
6
Actuel
Frontières – la Suisse et ses
frontaliers
18
Kolumne von Roger Thiriet –
Grenzerfahrungen à la bâloise
9
Les membres recrutent
de nouveaux membres
20
10
Chronique de Roger Thiriet –
Expériences frontalières depuis Bâle
21
11
De la PV-A:
Prolongation du plan social: partie 2 22
Aus der PV-A:
Verlängerung des Sozialplans: Teil 2
Vorankündigung:
Mitgliederversammlung 2016
Angestelltenvereinigung
Region Basel (ARB)
Bin ich versichert oder nicht?
Préavis: Réunion des membres
de la NAV 2016
12
NAV, für Sie aktiv
Sehenswertes aus Basel,
Regio und Interregio
38. Beitrag: Das Dreiländereck
und sein Pylon
14
Mitglieder werben Mitglieder
17
Association Employés
de la région de Bâle (ARB)
Suis-je assuré ou non?
Editorial
5
News
Borders – Switzerland and
its cross-border commuters
30
Members recruit members
33
Roger Thiriet’s column –
Living on the edge in Basel
35
From the PV-A:
Renewal of the social plan: Part 2
36
Advance Notice:
NAV Annual General Meeting 2016
37
Employees’ Association,
Basel Region (ARB)
Am I insured or not?
38
23
24
NAV, working for you
NAV, active pour vous
Curiosités de Bâle, régio et interrégio
38e partie: le Dreiländereck et
son pylône
26
Impressum
Sights worth seeing in Basel,
the Regio and Interregio
38th contribution: The tri-border
region and its pylon
40
Sämtliche Artikel finden Sie auch unter: www.nav.ch
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arb: Angestellten Vereinigung Region Basel
info erscheint vierteljährlich
Laufende Nr.: 73/2016
Auflage: 3000 Expl.
Redaktionsteam
Henriette Brunner, Roland Hirt, Davide
Lauditi, Susanne Hänni
Redaktionsschluss info 2/2016
31. Mai 2016
Kontaktadresse
NAV Geschäftsstelle
WKL-430.P.56 / Postfach
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Telefon 061 697 39 00
E-Mail: nav.nav.at.novartis.com
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28. Juni 2016
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3
INFO MÄRZ 2016
Editorial
Editorial
B
Your NAV Chairperson
Henriette Brunner
5
INFO MÄRZ 2016
orders divide, they separate but
they can also protect. There are,
however, various types of borders. There are federal and cantonal borders (in Switzerland) as well as
linguistic, cultural, political and religious
boundaries, but also many other types of
limits and demarcation lines.
Political and religious boundaries are
above all the result of conflicts and determine the fate of millions of people around the world. Borderlines can usually be recognized because of their markings by boundary stones. Occasionally, borders will also follow natural geographical features, but this is rare. For the most part they will have been
formed historically.
You don’t need to travel far at all – either in time or distance – to become acquainted
with the fierce battles over borders. In Switzerland, three cantons became divided into
two half-cantons for various reasons. The separation of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft
for instance, was attributable to disputes over the political rights of the rural population
in the post-“Restoration” period after 1830. While the inhabitants of Basel Stadt enjoyed
various privileges, the land in the present-day Basel-Landschaft remained a dependent
territory. This led in 1833 to the Battle of Hülftenschanz which saw the city suffer a
severe defeat. Thereafter, the Federal Diet of Switzerland (assembly of delegates from
individual cantons) agreed to the total separation of the canton. It was only nearly 100
years later that concrete steps towards reunification were taken, but wartime saw these
placed on hold again. The violent partition of the canton continues to be discussed controversially by both sides to this day. While the urban population would not be averse
to a reunion, the resistance to such an act has grown among the rural population. The
center services of the city and their cofinancing by the rural population is the key reason
behind the differences of opinion.
I wish to cite the partition of the canton of Appenzell as a further example; this happened on account of religious tensions and can be traced right back to the Reformation
period. The inhabitants of Outer Rhodes predominantly adopted the doctrines of the
Reformation while the Inner Rhodes population remained true to the teachings of
Catholicism. This led to widespread quarrels, and a fierce battle between the Catholics
and the Protestant minority ensued. The divide between what was disputed in faith and
foreign policy in Rhodes was insurmountably deep and all attempts at mediation failed.
This led to Inner and Outer Rhodes voting at separate democratic assemblies in 1597
to partition the canton into two half-cantons. And even if bitter fighting no longer takes
place between both half-cantons and evidence of their boundaries can hardly be seen
now, indirect taunts such as the spreading of slurry on the religious holidays of neighbors remain quite commonplace to this day.
Borders tell stories, but borders can also have something of an abstract quality about
them since they would be totally unnoticeable were it not for the occasional boundary
stone that separates cantons. Yet a spatial boundary is one thing, but mental delineation is quite different.
Especially in our region, you frequently don’t even notice for a second that you are
crossing a national border and regional cooperation by means of cross-border agreements has gained considerably in importance. In many places borders no longer have
the same significance they had in earlier centuries since the concept of a national identity can now hardly keep pace with global developments. It somehow seems paradoxical that, on the one hand, earlier conflicts over borders have time and again led to
bloody wars yet, on the other, unremitting efforts are also made to surmount boundaries.
It is in the nature of this subject that I could continue unfettered, or without limitation, here.
News
CROSS-BORDER COMMUTER STATISTICS FROM THE SWISS FEDERAL
OFFICE
Borders – Switzerland and its
cross-border commuters
INFO MARCH 2016
30
Thousands flock to Switzerland daily. And in the evening
or at the week’s end, leave again. In Geneva alone, nearly 110,000 people cross the border every day with the
aim of engaging in paid employment. In 2015 just under
70,000 people commuted daily across the border into
northwestern Switzerland. Never before have so many
people who reside abroad worked in Switzerland. Some
of these will even go right to the center of Switzerland
for their work, in spite of this entailing hours of travel.
Daniel W. Szpilman and Dr. Stephan Mumenthaler
Economic & Swiss Public Affairs, Novartis Switzerland
T
ake M., for instance, who works for Novartis in Stein.
One third of the employees of Novartis in Switzerland
are cross-border commuters. 10% of the cross-border
commuters who travel to and from northwestern Switzerland every day work for Novartis. The Stein plant would be
unable to operate without its cross-border commuters. With
around 1,900 employees, Novartis’s largest production site in
the world has become extremely important to this Swiss business location. Around 3.5 billion tablets, capsules, ampoules,
prefilled syringes, vials, auto-injectors and transdermal patches
are produced, checked, packed and shipped worldwide every
year at the Stein site. The products are supplied to over 150
countries. 99% of the plant’s products are exported. Should
Novartis have to dispense with its cross-border commuters, a
large part of Switzerland’s exports would be threatened.
Novartis and many other corporations are dependent on crossborder commuters. And what’s at stake here is nothing to do
with cheaper labor – frontier or cross-border workers earn as
much as their Swiss counterparts – it is about the skills of individual employees and about countering the shortage of skilled
workers.
Friends and family as factors
For years now, M. has commuted between his home in Alsace
and the Novartis production facility in the canton of Aargau. This
requires him to spend several hours a day on the road traveling
between France and Stein. “Friends and family, but also economic factors, are the reasons why I don’t wish to relocate to
Switzerland.” M.’s children attend school in France. A change of
school would be an unpleasant rerouting of their educational
paths since the two school systems are fundamentally different.
What’s more, the cost of living in France is lower, particularly as
a homeowner.
Cross-border commuters are foreigners, as are Swiss nationals
domiciled abroad who reside in neighboring countries, but who
are employed in Switzerland. This is all governed by the so-called
border zones; such zones are defined between the Swiss Confederation and its neighboring countries in cross-border commuter treaties. Border zones, however, ceased to apply from 1
June 2007 for EFTA and EU25 citizens.
This would theoretically make it possible to commute to Switzerland from Hamburg in northern Germany (over 800 km away) or
Perpignan in southern France (over 900 km away). Following the
Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, whose scope
since the conclusion of bilateral agreements now also extends to
the EU25 and EFTA member countries, cross-border commuters
must return at least once a week to their residence abroad. To
facilitate such frequent travel, cross-border commuters are provided with a so-called “Grenzgänger” (G) or cross-border commuter permit. This is valid for five years, provided an employment contract exists. Employment relationships that are limited
to periods of less than a year, as specified in the employment
contract, give the cross-border commuter access to a permit
whose validity will be determined by the employment contract in
question. M. also has such a cross-border commuter permit.
Attractive salaries and a fully functional labor market
Nestled in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is dependent on
intensive exchanges with its surrounding countries. This not only
extends to the trade in goods and transit traffic, but also to the
exchange of labor. Nevertheless, many more foreigners commute to Switzerland than Swiss leave their homeland for the day
to work abroad. Undoubtedly the high wages and fully functional labor market in the Swiss Confederation are the reasons
behind this.
The cross-border commuter statistics (GGS) published by the
Federal Office for Statistics provides quarterly information on
News
The hurdles of health insurance and taxes
Becoming a cross-border commuter is also accompanied by
difficulties that need to be addressed. For example, in the area
of health insurance and taxes. The French government for example has obliged its cross-border commuters to take out insurance
with national health insurance schemes in France. Basic Swiss
health insurance by itself would be a cheaper alternative for
French cross-border commuters.
This obligatory changeover requirement from the French side
affected around 90% of French cross-border commuters, i.e.
approx. 150,000 people. For over 50 years such commuters had
the choice between private health insurance in France, namely
the Sécurité Social national health insurance scheme, or Swiss
health insurance. The French private health insurance scheme
was frequently chosen because the premiums were relatively low
and cross-border commuters were able to benefit from treatment in Switzerland paid for by the French insurance scheme.
But Swiss health insurance funds became wise long ago to the
potential business from cross-border commuters. They targeted
foreign workers, marketing the benefits of Swiss quality.
Foreign cross-border commuters
3rd quarter 2015
Change from
previous quarter
in %
Change from
prior-year quarter
in %
Total
297,458
0.8
3.9
Wider region
Lake Geneva region
Espace Mittelland
Northwestern Switzerland
Zurich
Eastern Switzerland
Central Switzerland
Ticino
108,296
23,672
67,994
9,480
24,168
1,623
62,225
0,8
0,1
1,5
1,5
1,6
4,5
–0,3
6,1
3,2
4,0
7,6
3,3
19,1
–0,3
Agreements in sight
At a political level too, cross-border commuters are a subject
of interest. It has resulted in the French state paying a flat 4.5%
of the payroll of cross-border commuters to both Basel cantons.
In October of 2015, both Basel cantons were still waiting for an
outstanding payment of 124 million francs from Paris. According
to the Finance Office, Switzerland does not generally tax
incomes stemming from French cross-border commuters who
are employed. A reporting process is used which ensures that
the French tax authorities are notified by the Swiss tax authorities of gross wages that have been paid. Taxation takes place in
France, with France handing over 4.5% of the gross incomes to
the Swiss tax authorities. However, the process is different for
German cross-border commuters. Here, incomes are taxed at a
fixed rate of 4.5% and this is undertaken directly by the Swiss
tax authorities and directly at source, namely from the employer.
This process then governs the double taxation agreement
between Switzerland and its northern neighbor.
From the viewpoint of the Ticinese, Switzerland concluded an
unfavorable cross-border commuter treaty with Italy in 1974. The
cantonal parliament in Ticino at the request of the FDP therefore
passed a cantonal initiative for submission to the Federal Parliament demanding a revocation and renegotiation of the treaty
concluded in 1974.
As a result of this treaty, Ticino sees itself as obligated to remit
60 million francs annually to Rome from its income stemming
from cross-border commuter withholding tax. All in all, the canton of Ticino raises 150 million francs from this tax. Rome and
Bern have in the meantime reached an agreement. There is now
a new definition of who is and isn’t a cross-border commuter.
Whoever lives more than 20 kilometers from the Swiss border in
Italy will be fully taxed at his or her place of work. It means that
longer journeys to work are of benefit to the Swiss tax authorities.
The case of Ticino
But what effectively concerns the Ticinese much more is the
traffic chaos that ensues on account of cross-border commuters
from abroad. Today there around 100,000 more vehicles registered in Ticino than 20 years ago. Naturally, cross-border traffic
is also an issue in Basel and Geneva. However for reasons of
topography, it is much harder to manage in Ticino. It is not least
due to this that the canton of Ticino has turned away from its
southern neighbor. The mood in Ticino was expressed most
recently in February 2014 with the clear adoption of the SVP’s
mass immigration initiative when the southernmost canton, with
68% of residents voting in favor, was able to show the largest
agreement by far across Switzerland. Since the summer of 2015,
31
INFO MARCH 2016
the number of cross-border commuters employed in Switzerland
and their key characteristics. According to the GGS, the number
of cross-border commuters for the whole of Switzerland in the
third quarter of 2015 amounted to just under 300,000 people.
This is more than twice as much as in 1996 when there were
only around 145,000 cross-border commuters. This level of regular border crossings is hardly surprising. However, the fact that
nearly 800 people (in 1995 it was still 0) also commute to central
Swiss cantons like Zug that are away from borders, or that nearly
50 people commute daily to Uri, one of the original cantons, has
now become a normal expectation for many. The regions with
the most foreign cross-border commuters are, however, undisputedly the Lake Geneva region and northwestern Switzerland.
News
INFO MARCH 2016
32
cross-border commuters who wish to work in Ticino must present extracts from the criminal convictions register. Moreover,
the Ticino government regularly reviews measures that will help
to stem cross-border commuter traffic. A further aspect causing
anxiety to the Ticinese is the prospect of qualified, but cheaper
labor from Italy. Approximately one in four employees in Ticino
is now a cross-border commuter. And
just about every one of these will
cross the border with his or her own
car. 57% of cross-border commuters
work in the service sector. Based on
this, the southern canton would not
be able to operate as it does today
without its cross-border commuters.
Following the adoption of the mass
immigration initiative in February
2014, the subject of cross-border
commuters moved into the focus of
Swiss politics. Cross-border commuters, although not immigrants, are
also covered by the initiative. It is obvious that the situation, and accordingly the needs, will vary enormously
from one region to another. That is
also why in implementing the mass immigration initiative, the
decision-making powers relating to cross-border commuter
issues should reside with the cantons and not in the Swiss federal capital of Bern. The issue remains topical and is likely to
become even more widely discussed in Switzerland in future.
News
MANAGEMENT MEMBERS CAN ALSO BE REPRESENTED BY NAV
INFO MARCH 2016
33
Members
advertise for
members
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already won an attractive prize. By recruiting just
one new member you too will take part in the
next prize draw.
Annual subscription: Fr. 130.–
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News
COLUMN
Living on the edge in Basel
Roger Thiriet
Journalist and author
W
hen, on 13 August 1961, the German Democratic
Republic built a wall around its zone of Berlin, one
side of Bernauer Strasse ended up in the Eastern
zone, while the opposite pavement belonged to
the West. The first attempts to escape by making a giant leap
into freedom were thwarted by the GDR’s border police who
walled up the windows and evacuated the houses.
City to the left, country to the right
An equivalent to this situation in our region, albeit considerably less dramatic, dates back to when the canton of Basel was
divided into an urban and a rural part in 1833. At that time, the
Steinbühlallee, which links Binningerstrasse with Wanderstrasse
in the southwest of Basel, did not exist, but as the community of
Allschwil in Basel-Landschaft (Basel Country) extended further
towards the district of Neubad in Basel-Stadt (Basel City), this
unassuming suburban road became the border between the two
half-cantons. The even house numbers on the western side are
part of the canton of Basel-Landschaft while the odd numbers
on the other side of the road come under the jurisdiction of
Basel-Stadt. This has certain consequences in daily life, among
which the different rules on official refuse sacks, different dates
for collecting paper for recycling and different areas of validity
for residents’ parking permits are among the less troublesome.
And many a child has to make his or her way to day care or
kindergarten along other, busier roads, because the relevant
institution just on the opposite side of the road belongs to the
other canton.
Switzerland inside, Germany outside
While the Steinbühlallee performs its dividing function clearly
and unmistakably, the “Eiserne Hand” (“iron hand”) leaves its
visitors pretty well in the dark as to exactly where the border
between Switzerland and Germany lies. It is not entirely clear
where the name of this almost impassable patch of land in the
extreme northwest of Basel-Stadt’s rural district of Riehen comes
from. Perhaps from the unusual, finger-like shape of the strip of
land that extends far into German territory? Where you never
really know whether you are still in Switzerland or have already
reached Germany? Whatever the reason, thanks to its wildness
and remoteness, it was here that, during the Second World War,
many refugees made the illegal crossing into Switzerland and so,
in many cases, were rescued from persecution by the regime of
the Third Reich. During that dark period of European history, the
Swiss Federation offered temporary sanctuary to nearly 300,000
refugees, including many Jews seeking protection. Since 2011,
there has been a small museum in their memory in a former border guard’s building on the Lörrach-Basel railway line. The
stretch of track through Riehen, and this building, belonged –
even though they were on Swiss soil – to the German State
Railway. That made the escape route across the overgrown and
twisty border in the “Eiserne Hand” even more important.
Roger Thiriet is a journalist and author
who lives in Basel. In his column he
reflects the way the topic of the magazine relates specifically to his home city.
Europe all around
Finally, Basel’s Rhine port can also boast a very unusual border
situation. At the entrance to Dock no. 1, there is an imposing silver-colored monument, the three vanes of which are decorated
with the flags of Switzerland, Germany and France. This point,
where Switzerland meets the EU, is one of no fewer than six “triborder regions” in Switzerland. Up on Mont Dolent near Mont
Blanc, Switzerland reaches up to the boundary stones for France
and Italy, while on the Reschen Pass it butts up against Austrian
and Italian territory; near Feldkirch and Rätikon it shares two triborder regions with the Principality of Liechtenstein and Austria
and, finally, it meets Germany and Austria in the middle of Lake
Constance. Technically, Basel’s tri-border point is also located in
the Rhine and can only be reached by boat. But that’s no problem because in fine weather IG Rheinbogen operates a solarpowered ferry on Sunday afternoons between the tri-border
monument and the landing stages in Huningue (F) and Weil am
Rhein (D). It’s an example of the very special sense in which Basel
lives on the edge – just like the other two situations described
above.
Sources: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreiländereck ⎥ http://gedenkstaetteriehen.ch ⎥ www.rheinbogen.ch
35
INFO MARCH 2016
Novartis has its main site in a canton which, even
though it covers an area of just 37 km2, has 27 km of
shared borders with Germany and France and 16 km
of border with its partner canton Basel-Landschaft. The
Steinbühlallee, the “Iron Hand” and the “Tri-Border
Region” represent three very special border situations
in the Basel region on the Upper Rhine.
News
INFO MARCH 2016
36
FROM THE PV-A
Renewal of the social plan: Part 2
Info 4/2015 included a detailed report about why the social plan has been renewed. In this article, we would like to
discuss the improvements.
Davide Lauditi
Chairman of the PV-A
I
mprovements always has a nice ring
to it. Some employees have asked us
what improvements they could expect
if they were affected by restructuring.
This has confirmed the following points:
– Good, solid social plans provide support for affected employees.
– They enhance the image of Novartis.
– Employees who are not affected by a restructuring observe
the company's behavior.
The Employee Representative Council is for maintaining jobs.
If jobs are nevertheless restructured, we expect employers to
offer solutions that help employees to find a comparable internal
or external position.
The social plan was devised based on this principle and certain
improvements were subsequently made in 2015.
The social plan therefore sets out the following:
Objective
The primary objective is to offer all affected employees a new
position within Novartis wherever possible in order to minimize
redundancies. Wherever this is not possible, the social plan mitigates the financial consequences of redundancies and supports
fair and reasonable implementation of the program.
News
Age group 55–57
Employees between the ages of 55 and 57 now have the
additional option of continuing to work at 40% of their prior
employment level. During this time, i.e. from the time they enter
the program, the employees receive a reduced annual salary,
which is based on 40% of their prior employment level.
This expanded option can ease social hardships.
In the past, employees had the following two options:
1. Leave the company with a severance payment. Employees
receive a gross payment and the vested benefits from the
pension fund. However, this option was chosen very rarely.
2. External membership of the pension fund, severance payment
and early retirement from the age of 58.
Employees who choose option two receive a gross bridging payment of 40% of their last basic salary on the contractual date of
leaving. This applies for a maximum of three years up to the time
of early retirement at age 58.
New, third option
Temporary employment relationship based on 40% of the
prior employment level until the age of 58. This increases the
chances of finding a new position internally while also remaining
employable.
At age 58, the employee receives a severance payment** and
early retirement.
Severance payment
* For external membership, the employer’s and employee’s
contributions to the pension fund are continued in the same
proportion as during employment. All contributions shall be due
as a one-time payment on the contractual leaving date.
** This severance payment will be increased by an additional
14% as a result of the change in the conversion rate as of
1 January 2016. Furthermore, for the simplified application procedure (hardship fund) for compensation payments to the pension fund, the maximum amount was raised from CHF 84,000 to
CHF 112,000. The maximum entitlement for benefits under the
hardship fund will now be granted after only 10 years of service
(previously not until 25 years of service).
This new, third option represents a significant improvement.
Let’s consider an example:
An employee who is 55 when he leaves the company, receives
a monthly salary of CHF 8,333 and has 25 years of service will
receive approx. CHF 220,000 (taxable). However, it should be
mentioned that this sum is paid out without a hardship fund or
any other company contributions* that are intended for the
pension fund.
If the employee must distribute the amount above over three
years, he would live on a gross monthly salary of approx.
CHF 6,000. By the time he reaches age 58, not much will be left
of the CHF 220,000 severance payment to compensate for the
gap in the pension fund. In addition, a lower conversion rate will
further reduce the pension. This option is suitable if the employee
finds an external position.
ADVANCE NOTICE
NAV Annual General Meeting 2016
The 18th NAV Members’ Meeting will take place on April 19, 2016, at 4 p.m.
at Novartis Campus, in the auditorium of the Visitor Center.
37
INFO MARCH 2016
Job Center
Employees who are no longer interested in a new internal
position receive external assistance. This frees up more capacity
and support for those seeking an internal position.
ARB
OVERVIEW OF SOCIAL SECURITY IN SWITZERLAND
Am I insured or not?
INFO MARCH 2016
38
The social security system in Switzerland is complex. The
different aspects of social security are well coordinated,
but for non-experts, the details can be hard to understand. This overview of social security for employees is
intended to outline the basic principles and explain some
specific key questions.
Regula Steinemann
Attorney-at-law and Employees’ Association Managerial Head,
Basel ARB Region
Old-age pension (AHV), disability
benefit (IV), loss of earnings insurance (EO) and unemployment benefit
(ALV)
n principle, from 1 January in the year
after their 17th birthday, everyone
who earns an income in Switzerland
has to pay contributions for old-age
and survivors’ insurance (AHV), disability
benefit (IV), unemployment benefit (ALV)
and compensation for loss of earnings. This provides insurance
against the risks of old age, death, unemployment and disability.
If these “risks” occur, benefits (pensions/daily allowances) will
then be paid out. The Federal Act on Compensation for Loss of
Earnings (EO) regulates the compensation for persons on military
service or civil protection duty or on maternity leave.
Contributions have to be paid until normal retirement age is
reached (65 years for men, 64 years for women). Those employees
whose pay per year and per employer does not exceed CHF 2,300
are exempt from the obligation to pay contributions unless they
wish to do so. For people not in employment, special rules apply
that will not be further discussed here; for more information
please see www.ahv-iv.ch/p/2.03.d
The contributions on what is called the “definitive wage”
(see: www.ahv-iv.ch/p/2.01.d) are divided equally between
the employer and the employee and amount to: 8.4% for oldage pension (AHV) (i.e. 4.2% each), 1.4% for disability benefit
(IV) (0.7% each), 0.45% for loss of earnings insurance (EO)
(0.225% each). Up to a salary of CHF 148,200 the amount for
unemployment benefit (ALV) is 2.2% (i.e. 1.1% each), while for
unlimited earnings above CHF 148,200 the “solidarity contribution” is 1% (i.e. 0.5% each).
I
Key facts
Employees who continue to work beyond the statutory retirement age are obliged to continue to pay contributions towards
old-age pension (AHV), disability benefit (IV) and loss of earnings
insurance (EO) (with a tax-deductible amount of CHF 1,400
per month). Similarly, employees who retire early have to continue to pay contributions – even if they are no longer earning
any income. Their contributions are then calculated on the basis
of their assets and their pension income, multiplied by a factor
of 20. More information can be found at: www.bsv.admin.ch
/themen/ahv/berechnung_nichterwerbstaetige/?lang=de
Occupational pensions (BVG)
In principle, all employees who are paying into old-age pension insurance (AHV) and who earn an annual salary of at least
CHF 21,150 from their employer are covered by an occupational
pension scheme. From the age of 17 to 24, the contributions
cover the risks of death and disability, while saving for old-age
begins on 1 January after a person’s 24th birthday and then
continues until statutory retirement age.
Employees whose employment contract is for less than three
months are not insured; nor are those who work for more than
one employer but whose pay does not reach the minimum level
with any one of them; they can, however, take out voluntary
insurance if their total annual salary exceeds CHF 21,150.
The contribution rates for this so-called 2nd pillar (occupational pension scheme) vary depending on the pension fund, but
must always be divided equally, that is to say, the employer’s
contribution must be at least as much as the employee’s.
Accident insurance/health insurance
Health insurance is compulsory for the entire resident population of Switzerland and responsibility for taking out the insurance rests with the individual – regardless of whether or not they
are in employment. The situation for accident insurance is different. Here, too, there is an obligation to have insurance under
the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), but everyone employed
in Switzerland is compulsorily insured against accident through
their employer under the Accident Insurance Act (UVG) – and
this includes apprentices and interns.
Accidents at work and non-work-related accidents
Accident insurance distinguishes between accidents at work
(accidents that happen while the policyholder is working) and
non-work-related accidents (which happen during the policyholder’s free time and are the most common kind of accident –
e.g. when playing sport). Only employees who work for an
employer for a minimum of eight hours a week are insured
against accidents at work, work-related illness and non-workrelated accidents and are entitled to suspend their accident
cover from their own health insurance provider for the duration
of their employment. If their employment comes to an end, the
accident cover must be reinstated. The health insurer must be
informed immediately. Cover continues after the employment
has come to an end for a period of 30 days. The employer is
under an obligation to inform the employee.
Employees whose weekly working time is less than eight
hours are not insured against non-work-related accidents
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INFO MARCH 2016
39
and must take out accident cover with their health insurer.
Important: for these people, accidents on the way to work (contrary to the usual situation) are regarded as work-related accidents and are covered by the employer’s accident insurance
under the Accident Insurance Act (UVG). In certain cases this can
be significant, because UVG insurance provides better protection: policyholders pay neither the standard deductible amount
nor the excess on any treatment costs and, in the case of serious
accidents, the UVG provides other benefits (daily allowances,
pensions, compensation).
The amount of the accident insurance premium varies depending on the insurance company. According to the law, the
employer has to pay the premiums for the compulsory insurance
for accidents at work, while the employee is responsible for the
premiums for the compulsory insurance for non-work-related
accidents. However, this can be waived in the employee’s favor.
Special points
Health insurance (which covers treatment and recovery costs)
must not be confused with per diem sickness insurance which
covers the loss of earnings suffered by employees if they are
unable to work for a certain period due to illness (similar to per
diem accident insurance in the case of an accident). Taking out
per diem sickness insurance is not compulsory. However, over
90% of all employers voluntarily take out per diem sickness insurance for the benefit of their employees.
Health and accident insurance mainly cover medical emergencies abroad. If there is uncertainty as to whether a situation is an
emergency (treatment is necessary, returning home is not appropriate), it is best to inform the insurance company about the
hospitalization/treatment in advance. Generally: inform the insurance company as soon as possible.
But be careful: for treatment abroad, health and accident insurance companies will only pay a maximum of double what the
treatment would cost in Switzerland, which is important especially
when traveling in countries with high health-care costs. It is therefore important to inform yourself before a foreign trip and take
out additional insurance to cover all the costs in the event of illness or accident. Without taking out additional cover like this, I
would have had to pay a bill for over USD 13,000 myself after my
last trip to the USA – a really expensive holiday!
Important changes as of 1 January 2016
The contribution rate for compensation for loss of earnings
has fallen from 0.5% to 0.45%. The contribution rate for old-age
pension (AHV), disability benefit (IV) and loss of earnings insurance (EO) is now 10.25% for both employees and employers.
The maximum insured income for compulsory accident insurance under the UVG has been increased to CHF 148,200 (previously CHF 126,000). The increase to the insured income for accident insurance has also impacted on unemployment benefit:
contributions of 2.2% towards unemployment benefit (ALV)
now have to be paid up to the maximum limit of CHF 148,200.
NAV, working for you
INFO MARCH 2016
40
SIGHTS WORTH SEEING IN BASEL, THE REGIO AND INTERREGIO –
38TH CONTRIBUTION: THE TRI-BORDER REGION AND ITS PYLON
The tri-border region, symbolized
by the pylon standing in Basel’s
Rhine port!
Basel’s Rhine port was built on the land of the Kleinhüningen municipality that became established in Basel. Ships
from all of the countries bordering the Rhine brought goods to Basel. A simple concrete mast with three wings,
from which 3 national flags pointed towards France, Germany and Switzerland, stood at the end of the harbor wall
until 1957. Wilhelm Münger’s pylon also enabled the tri-border region concept, later Triregio, to be visualized.
Since then, much has changed for the better.
Peter Bernauer
T
he term “tri-border region” actually leaves little scope
for interpretation: it is the point at which the borders of
three countries “collide.” In the past, this could have
certainly been taken at its literal meaning, however, our
tri-border region boasts a long history of conflicts of interest.
Forays across the borders were commonplace until France,
Germany and Switzerland finally (?) agreed on what constituted
their territories.
At the border this gave rise to symbols, that remained visible
until recent times, of domination and the determination to
defend what countries held as theirs. Since I attended school in
Kleinhüningen, whose school building (as well as the new one)
was situated around 700 m from the common border point of
the three countries in the middle of the Rhine, this was all a kind
of history lesson that became very memorable, even without a
teacher. On the way to our parents’ allotment garden in Weil’s
district of Friedlingen, behind harbor basin II, the footpath
passed alongside two destroyed German bunkers; one of them
was right in the middle of the roundabout where the new tram
and cars have to “endure” their space on the road. Customs
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INFO MARCH 2016
inspections were meticulous, meaning that 50 grams always had
to be cut from a block of cheap German butter and also left in
Germany (Switzerland only permitted the import of 200 g).
And German cross-border commuters were only permitted to
take their small daily quotas of coffee, tea, sugar, pasta and
bread into Germany from Switzerland, needing to have these
“stamped off” on their green card. On our bicycle tours along
the Rhine towards Breisach, the adjoining part of the German
fortification line also became visible. The Maginot Line consisted
of small bunkers (from Basel/the Novartis Campus!) that were
intended to secure the French banks of the Rhine. In Huningue,
the remains of the former Vauban fortress that had to be razed
in the winter of 1815/16 at the request of the City of Basel can
be seen on the French side. Two solitary red bridge piers also
stood in the Rhine below Huningue; the remains of the railway
bridge that had been constructed by Germany in 1878 and then
dismantled again in 1937 for the purpose of “border strengthening.” On the Swiss side, Basel had always been so exposed in
modern times that no attempt was ever made to construct fortifications of this type directly on the border. But the effects of
the conflicts could be seen readily: the hydroelectric power plant
that had been built at Kembs in 1932 dammed the Rhine right
up to and beyond the tri-border region, so making navigation in
its current form possible for the first time for the Kleinhüningen
dock (bypassing the Istein rapids …). But the Rhine level dropped
so drastically in the aftermath of the devastation of 1940 and
on 7 October 1944 (Royal Air Force) that the ships in the Kleinhüningen dock literally came to rest on dry land!
My parents recounted their experiences (affirmed by photographs) of the floating (pontoon) bridge from Friedlingen to
Huningue. This bridge was torn away by a flood on 9 November
1944 and not replaced again. In my youth, a ferry operated at
this location (at the expense of Germany, as per the Versailles
Treaty of 1919) which allowed us to travel from Friedlingen to
Huningue and back again with a bicycle at no charge. The person who got the most out of these sorties was my father, who
was able to obtain his cigarette papers (for his roll-ups ...) without having to pay Swiss taxes. Compared to today, this was a
world of clearly demarcated borders, different viewpoints (e.g.
cinema censorship meant seeing the film across the border!), the
three currencies of the Swiss and French franc and German
mark, and their exchange rates or devaluations, through to the
“Nouveau Franc” (France).
The present situation of open borders has also had structural
ramifications: the border fortifications are no longer noticeable
or visible, but a hundred years later, in 1979, firstly a road bridge
was built on the original pillars of the railway bridge, and then
on 30 March 2007 the new Dreiländerbrücke (“Three Countries’
Bridge”) between Weil/Friedlingen and Huningue got opened;
in effect, a late replacement for the floating bridge and car ferry
that existed at the same location. The most recent change has
been the extension of tram line 8 from Basel/Kleinhüningen to
Weil/Leopoldshöhe. Together with the development of the exchange rate, this has brought a huge number of cross-border
commuters to the tri-border region, but also regular collapses in
such commuter numbers. But even this is not entirely new to
me, because tram line 25 went from Elsässerstrasse in Basel right
to the station in Huningue until 1961. Today, the Basel section
of this line would have been a campus tram!
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INFO MARCH 2016
42
Now, let’s get to the title of this piece: the tri-border region,
a symbol. Today, some of the signposts in Basel still show the
wording “Dreiländereck” (tri-border region). For us, in the times
of rigidly enforced borders, this was the outermost point in the
Rhine harbor where you could see across the water to France
and Germany. Ships brought goods, but also people and other
languages to us. And goods left Switzerland to be used throughout the world. Most of it could be seen, since containers only
came into regular use much later. The many small ships (up until
1961 barges also traveled directly from the Canal de Huningue
to Huningue and along the Rhine) were replaced by larger ones,
as well as push-barge combinations. The constant arrival of ships
gave way to a precise sailing schedule of container ships from
Monday to Friday, and pipelines reduced oil imports via the
Rhine. All this means that the docks are empty on weekends; as
is also the silo terrace on the heritage-listed Bernoulli silo tower
(red brick!) which is no longer open to the public. But for me, a
visit (or cruise) to the tri-border region is still well worthwhile. In
my youth it was basic, unspectacular and lifeless. In the meantime it became a popular meeting place with a café and the
pylon created by Wilhelm Münger in 1957 (firstly painted with
circular national flags) and, later on, an ultra-cool restaurant
of the nineties. In fact, it was so cool it was freezing in winter
and overheated in the summer (now closed …)! It means the
18.7-meter-high pylon is now usually a solitary structure in the
tri-border region, albeit newly adorned with rectangular national
flags … Here are 2 insiders’ recommendations: the Basel Passenger Shipping Company starts its cruises from this point. It has
plenty of car parking spaces and lots of space for passengers on
its boats. It is a must to make your “arrival” in Basel complete.
Catering facilities exist at several locations on both sides of the
tri-border bridge; in the Kleinhüningen Rhine port, the “Rostiger
Anker” restaurant is situated in the former workshops of the
Neptune shipping company. On a summer’s evening, directly
alongside the water, with an unobstructed view westward at
sunset; it’s perfect with the right company … Or also for a lunch
(reservation!).
My grandchildren in Switzerland have already been there and
a visit to the transport hub can certainly help put children into a
“dock mood.”
Huningue and back to Kleinhüningen will be open when my
grandchildren from New Zealand visit us this year.
NAV, working for you
Hopefully, the footpath along the Rhine from the Novartis
Campus in Basel’s St. Johann district to Weil/Friedlingen via
Museums that document the history of the tri-border region and illustrate this with pictures and equipment:
Bernoulli silo tower
Open visit days to silo terrace in 2016 “The point of best
view” over the Kleinhüningen-Harbour
Sundays the 20th of March, 17th of April, 22th of Mai, 12th
of June, 14th of August, 4th of September, 16th of October,
and Saturday 21st of Mai 2016 Meeting Point Transport Hub
of Switzerland always at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 und 13:00
France
Musée d’histoire locale et militaire
6, rue des Boulangers ⎜F-68333 Huningue
www.ville-huningue.fr/fr/musee-historique-huningue
Opening hours: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month
14:30–17:30
Germany
Museums in Weil am Rhein
www.museen-weil-am-rhein.de
Dorfstube Ötlingen
Dorfstrasse 61 ⎜D-79576 Weil am Rhein
Tel. +49 7621 61 877
Opening hours: April–October, Sunday 15:00–17:00
Agricultural Museum
Am Bläsiring 10 ⎜Altweil ⎜D-79576 Weil am Rhein
Tel. +49 7621 79 22 19
Opening hours: April to October, Sunday 14:00–18:00
Museum am Lindenplatz
Lindenplatz 1 ⎜Altweil ⎜D-79576 Weil am Rhein
Tel. +49 7621 79 22 19
Opening hours: Saturday 15:00–18:00, Sunday and public
holidays 14:00–18:00
Weil Textile History Museum
Am Kesselhaus 23 ⎜D-79576 Weil am Rhein
Tel. +49 7621 79 22 19
Opening hours: every 1st Sunday in the month from
14:00–17:00 and by arrangement
My recommendation:
Upper-Rhine Museum Pass, available (with photo) from and
accepted by all the recommended museums!
Annual Pass CHF 128/EUR 98
for 2 people (separate passes!) CHF 238/EUR 183
Accompanied children up to 5 years are free!
Restaurant in Kleinhüningen Harbor «Rostiger Anker»
Hafenstrasse 25A ⎜4057 Basel ⎜Tel. 061 631 08 03
www.rostigeranker.ch
Closed over winter until 13 March 2016
Monday to Tuesday: 11:00–14:30
Wednesday to Friday: 11:00–23:00
Saturday: 18:00–23:00
Sunday: 10:00–18:00 (brunch until 13, table reservations
required)
The restaurant is situated directly on dock I; parking is available at the transport hub, take the footpath from there past
the silo tower (red brick building) to the Hiltalinger bridge,
continue until you reach the water then turn left and go back
to the “Rostiger Anker.” From the Kleinhüningen tram stop,
it is an approx. 1.2 km walk. For children, close supervision is
necessary since truck and rail traffic pose hazards throughout
the entire area. Look carefully first, then walk!
Important: the route to, and the seats of the restaurant are
situated on the harbor wall, directly alongside the water;
there are no railings! Although this is not ideal for children, it
can be done with some discipline. Not recommended for prams
and wheelchairs. Comfortable walking shoes and not high
heels are recommended in the harbor area. Sober accompaniment is also recommended if you intend to enjoy a few alcoholic beverages!
Basel Passenger Shipping
www.bpg.ch
The Swiss Half-Fare travelcard/Family travelcard issued by the
SBB is valid on scheduled sailings! The price list should be
consulted before starting a cruise to avoid any surprises! The
adventure cruises are recommended and have reasonable
prices! Scheduled sailings/lock trips to Rheinfelden are extremely
popular with kids and grandparents! For cost reasons, the
return journey by rail is recommended!
The ships Merian, Lällekönig and Basler Dybli are permanently
berthed at the tri-border region from where they start their
sailings!
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INFO MARCH 2016
Switzerland
Transport Hub of Switzerland
(Kleinhüningen Rhine Port)
Westquaistrasse 2 ⎜CH-4057 Basel
www.verkehrsdrehscheibe.ch
Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–17:00
(Reduces to only Tuesday/Saturday/Sunday 10:00–17:00
in January/February)
Price/person CHF 9