Parliament has rejected an initiative which was put forward at the end of last year.
Called ‘For a Committed Switzerland’, the aim was to encourage all young people to undertake volunteer work for their community.
It would have been open equally to male and female and it could be chosen instead of military service.
But most MPs were against the idea.
Some were worried it would siphon off potential recruits for the army, others were concerned it may be too much of a burden on women - who already do much unpaid work.
The upper house still needs to vote.
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