Swiss Social Affairs Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider is advocating for a value-added tax (VAT) increase to financially support a 13th annual pension payment. The proposed measure will be put to a national referendum on November 29th. Minister Baume-Schneider cautioned that a rejection of the VAT increase could lead to significant repercussions for the pension system. She made these remarks during a press conference held in Bern, as reported by RTS. The need for additional revenue is critical to ensure the long-term sustainability of pension payments in Switzerland. The outcome of the vote will determine whether the 13th pension payment will be implemented as planned. This debate centers on balancing the financial needs of the state pension with the tax burden on citizens.