Swiss voters reject immigration cuts

Voters in Switzerland decisively rejected a proposal to cut net immigration to no more than 0.2 per cent of the population, the BBC reported.

The referendum yesterday saw about 74 per cent of people from the country's 26 cantons reject the proposal.

According to the supporters of the measure, it would have reduced pressure on the country's resources, while opponents said it would have been bad for the economy.

Nearly a quarter of Switzerland's 8 million people are foreigners and under the measure the government would be required to reduce immigration from about 80,000 to 16,000 people a year.

Switzerland's system of direct democracy, allows citizens to vote in a referendum if they muster enough signatures in support.

Switzerland voted in February to re-introduce immigration quotas, effectively opting out of an EU free-movement agreement.