New Federal Poverty Report / Caritas Welcomes First National Poverty Monitoring: Actions Must Follow Now

"Finally, we have a comprehensive overview of how widespread poverty is in Switzerland, who is particularly at risk, and which measures are effective," says Aline Masé, Head of the Social Policy Department at Caritas Switzerland.

In the national poverty monitoring, statistics and current research findings are interwoven. It is intended to provide the Confederation, cantons, and municipalities with the necessary knowledge to combat poverty in a targeted manner. Caritas Switzerland accompanied the development of the monitoring report within project groups. "The national poverty monitoring is a crucial basis for more effective poverty alleviation," says Aline Masé.

Families often live in particularly difficult financial circumstances

The new monitoring report highlights the various causes of poverty in Switzerland and shows the connections between financial and non-financial limitations. Furthermore, the poverty situation of different population groups and household types is examined: The report confirms earlier findings that families, compared to households without children, are particularly often in financially precarious situations and have no reserves. For Aline Masé, it is clear: "Switzerland must better support families, especially those with low incomes."

Moreover, the report disproves the widespread assumption that poverty is only a temporary phenomenon. More than half of those affected fall into social hardship repeatedly throughout their lives. The inheritance of poverty is a real problem. Thus, young people from families affected by poverty have a significantly higher risk of experiencing social and material deprivation in the future.

Cantons must provide more data

Caritas Switzerland also sees room for improvement in national poverty monitoring. The data basis is still incomplete. Although the cantons have precise tax data on income and wealth, this data is not provided to the Confederation in a manner that would allow it to be linked with population, household, or social assistance statistics. This would be necessary to make precise statements about the financial situation, the receipt of social benefits, and household composition. The current data basis also does not allow for tracking an individual's data over several years and across canton borders.

"For a successful poverty policy, the Confederation needs more reliable tax data from the cantons," concludes Aline Masé. But the current report already shows very well where there is a need for action and which measures would have a significant impact. It is important that concrete measures are now taken. "Now political will is needed to translate the data into actions. Switzerland needs a poverty policy that deserves its name and effectively reduces poverty significantly."

Numbers and facts about poverty in Switzerland:

- Over 1.3 million people in Switzerland, according to the Federal Statistical Office, live below or just around the poverty line. This is 15 percent of the population.
- 708,000 people are affected by poverty in the strict sense.
- This includes about 100,000 children affected by poverty.
- 336,000 men and women are affected by or threatened with poverty despite being employed, counting among the working poor.
- An individual affected by poverty in Switzerland has a maximum of 2,315 francs per month at their disposal, a family of four with parents and two children has 4,051 francs.

Contact:
Livia Leykauf, Media Spokesperson Caritas Switzerland
medien@caritas.ch
076 233 45 04

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