Swiss news weekly L’Hebdo magazine 2 April publishes a feature article on expatriates in the Lake Geneva region. GenevaLunch, a partner of l’Hebdo brings you the English version in three parts.

French version © 2009 l’Hebdo

English version © 2009 GenevaLunch (may not be reproduced in part or whole without written permission.

By Julie Zaugg and Mehdi Atmani

They have their own schools, media and even neighbourhoods where they live. But who are these expatriates? Spotlight on this comfortably well-off and discreet community that lives side by side with the Swiss, without really mixing with them.

The Expats are among us

“Bonjour, hello – can I help you?” smiles the saleswoman in a children’s clothing shop. At the Chavannes-de-Bogis shopping centre English is ever-present, from the supermarket checkout to the self-service restaurant. Sometimes a word or two of German surfaces, or Swedish or Hindi. Not surprsing: we’re in the middle of a stretch that runs from Versoix to Nyon, which houses the largest concentration of expats in Switzerland.

Little is known about this population, despite the large number of these workers who come to Switzerland for several years, sent by companies and international organizations. L’Hebdo takes a closer look.

How many of them are there?

There are no precise figures for this population because expats melt into the group of holders of B permits, renewable residence permits for non-European Union members. But there are an estimated 100,000 in French-speaking Switzerland – nearly the same size as the population of Lausanne. In Geneva alone there are 65,000 expats, some 40,000 of whom work for international organizations, with their families.

GenevaLunch will continue the article Friday afternoon 3 April.

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