Background

Children in Switzerland

Raising a child in Switzerland has both advantages and disadvantages. The high cost of child-care and health insurance can put a hefty dent in the family budget. However, the excellent quality of public education, clean environment and lack of crime make it a good place to bring up children. It is traditionally expected that mothers will take most of the responsibility for their children, as is reflected in policies such as the absence of government mandated paternity leave after the birth of a child and the fact that women are expected to be home to give their children lunch in the middle of the day.

The Family, Generations and Society (FGS) domain of the Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) deals with issues and policies related to children and their welfare in Switzerland.