On the 3rd local time, Switzerland held a referendum on the proposal to pay pensions for retirees for the 13th month. The results of the vote showed that the proposal received support from 16 of the 26 states, with 58 voter support24%。
In response to the aging population and soaring cost of living in Switzerland, the Swiss Confederation of Trade Unions has called for an annual increase in the 13th-month pension for retirees, according to Agence France-Presse 3**. The president of the Swiss Confederation of Trade Unions, Mérard, said that the "historic" result of the referendum was not easy as the purchasing power crisis led to a decline in the living standards of Swiss retirees. The Swiss Greens called the vote a "major victory" and that "for many retirees, their situation will improve". But the proposal was strongly opposed by Switzerland**, right-wing and centrist parties. This means an increase of more than 4 billion Swiss francs (100 Swiss francs is about 815 yuan) in pension spending every year, which could threaten the financial stability of the social security system, according to Switzerland.
Currently, the monthly pension is reportedly capped at CHF 2,450 for single people in Switzerland and CHF 3,675 per month for married couples. Switzerland is regarded as one of the most expensive countries in the world, and other European countries have similar "retirement benefits", such as neighbouring Liechtenstein, which implemented a 13-month pension system a few years ago. (Arion).