Switzerland is one of the countries where the cost of living is among the highest in Europe. This reality, driven by a highly regulated labor market and high salaries, means that more technical trades, such as electricity, masonry or plumbing, are recognized and well paidif compared with those of other European countries. However, for many foreigners, especially students or young workers, accessing these services can be an economic problem.
In this sense, Sara Álvarez, a young Spanish woman who lives and works in Switzerland, has expressed in a video published on her social networks (@sarainzurich), her surprise at the prices charged by electricians in this country. “Here the work of an electrician or a plumber is very highly valued and they charge a lot,” he points out.
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500 euros for two hours of work
The trigger was a breakdown in his student apartment that left them without electricity, and which led him to request a quote to repair an incident in the electrical installation. The result was 250 Swiss francs per hour (which is about 270 euros) and a total estimated cost of 500 euros for two hours of work, according to the affected person.
The young woman explains that, faced with the breakdown, together with her colleagues, also tenants, they chose to consult the price beforehand, aware that “in this country you have to ask for a budget beforehand because you never know, since they can charge you 600 euros to fix a pipe,” she warns.
However, despite explaining to the professional that they were students and did not have much savings, the employee confirmed that the price did not allow for reductions, so the group began to look for alternatives, such as resorting to one of the tenants’ insurance to avoid paying such an amount. “If I know, I’ll take a course as an electrician, which is needed,” the young woman comments with a laugh, still surprised by the amount of the budget.
User reactions
The impact of the video has been immediate, where numerous users, many of them electricians or qualified workers, have shared their surprise, their doubts and also their personal experiences. Among the most repeated comments is the desire to emigrate to Switzerland to improve your working conditions or some other irony about the salary difference. “You pay me for the trip and 100 euros and I’ll go from Seville,” or “You get an intensive workshop and have enough left over for dinner,” some of the users comment.
The debate, however, goes beyond amazement and reflects the complexity of the Swiss labor market. Some users warn of the demanding training these jobs require, while others qualify the figures, pointing out that the price corresponds to companies and that self-employed workers charge much lower rates.