Swiss voters reject 6 weeks’ vacation

Swiss voters reject 6 weeks’ vacation

BERN, Switzerland

Who turns down a long vacation? Known for their work ethic, Swiss citizens appear to be leading the way on European austerity, rejecting a minimum six weeks’ paid holiday a year.

Switzerland counted ballots Sunday for five national referendums, including one pushed by a union to raise the minimum holiday up from four weeks, which is the standard used in Germany, Italy, Russia and other European nations. Some of the nation’s 26 cantons (states) also had voting on local measures.

The Swiss heeded warnings from government and business that more vacation would raise labor costs and put the economy at risk. Swiss public broadcaster SSR said two-thirds of voters and all of the cantons had rejected the measure, which required majority approval of all federal and cantonal voters.

Brazilians flock to US to shop

RIO DE JANEIRO

The overstuffed bags filling Fernando Mello’s luggage cart wobbled precariously as the gym owner made his way home one morning through Rio’s international airport. Navigating the terminal, Mello was part of a horde of other Brazilian travelers returning with loot found in the strip malls and discount outlets of southern Florida.

Brazilian travelers spend more per capita than any other visitors to the U.S. According to the latest statistics, Brazilians spent $5.9 billion in the U.S. in 2010 in a tsunami of cash that’s shifting American immigration practices and boosting economies in hard-hit parts of the U.S. that remain in the doldrums.

Associated Press