Novartis to cut 500 jobs in Basel
In line with a current restructuring towards an integrated operations model, Novartis is expected to create 350 new hi-tech jobs in its production and science sectors over the next 18 months in Switzerland. However, over the same period, up to 500 jobs in the traditional production as well as the coordination and development sectors are expected to be cut.
Last year, the pharmaceutical giant introduced a new integrated operations model in line with a global transformation, in order to strengthen its innovation as well as to raise its quality and efficiency worldwide. The continuous implementation of this new model also involves adjustments to staffing numbers in different countries.
In this context, Novartis yesterday (Thursday) announced that in the next 18 months it will create around 350 new jobs in Switzerland. The new jobs will be created in the drug development and the production of innovative biologics. This step underlines the long-term commitment of the company to its site in Switzerland and demonstrates further investment in the innovation and the firm's capacity for growth, the firm said.
At the same time, in the region of Basel, the firm plans to either remove or relocate up to 500 jobs. The jobs which will go will be predominately in the traditional production as well as the coordination and development sectors. Novartis has been involved in consultation with its employee representatives in Switzerland regarding the decision. The company has said it wishes to offer support to all affected employees. This includes maximising the internal and external redeployment potential of its affected staff through a job centre, a social security plan as well as meeting statutory requirements for people who choose to take voluntary early retirement.
New director's prize at the Gässli Film Festival valued at 2000 Francs
This year's Basel film festival Gässli is introducing an award for "Best Director", which comes with a prize money of 2000 Swiss francs, donated by the SRG SSR.
From 30th August until 3rd September the charming "Gerbergässlein" street in Basel will be transformed, with short films being shown on an open-air cinema screen. The new award of Best Director will honour the best filmmakers in five competition categories. The festival team has also in the meantime been completed: Ledwina Siegrist has taken over along with festival founder Giacun Caduff as co-director.
Up to five directors who submit their short films to the Gässli Film Festival competition will be in line to be nominated "Best Director". They will receive an exclusive invitation to the Gässli Film Festivals in Basel. The prize money of 2,000 francs has been donated by the SRG SSR to support young talent in the local film industry. "In the last eight years we have awarded wonderful films as part of the complete distinguished works." With the new Best Director prize, the jury will honour a director who has told a story from a unique perspective.
The competition prizes which already exist remain in place and the addition of the new directors award will bring the total prize money to over 8,000 francs. Short films from Swiss and international filmmakers can be submitted until the deadline of 1 June through the website: www.gässlifilm.ch.
Baselland parliament wants better transparency concerning hospital funding
Hospitals in the canton of Baselland should give more detailed information about the usage of public service payments (GWL), according to a motion. The parliament silently transferred the motion by a Green Party parliament member to the government on Thursday.
The motion demands that GWL-service providers should have to offer more transparency by appropriate accounting. In addition, new GWL-permits within bills discussed by the parliament should report on what this money was used for in the previous period.
The motion was ignited by a debate last February about the GWL-permit for the cantonal hospital, the psychiatry unit, and private hospitals. At the time, several factions in the parliament were critical of the permit, claiming that it was impossible to estimate which services were demanding money and how much was spent. They demanded that such applications should be better justified.
Public services which hospitals provide by law, a service agreement or contracts must be funded by the canton. This includes the cost of operating the emergency units 24/7, paying for the emergency services and training junior doctors.