[Switzerland] CHF23.90 minimum wage approved in Zurich

In Zurich, voters have approved a CHF23.90 ($26.74) minimum wage that left-wing groups say will help the city’s working poor. On June 18, Winterthur - a neighbouring Swiss city - also accepted minimum wage measures, SWI reports.

Around 69.4 per cent of voters in Zurich accepted the proposal. It has the potential to benefit around 17,000 workers who currently earn less than CHF23 per hour. 

The majority of affected workers are reportedly women in low-wage sectors such as cleaning, restaurants and retail.

Left-wing and centrist parties and charity organisations drove the campaigns for a new minimum wage, arguing that it was a necessary tool in the fight against poverty.

Opponents reportedly argued that the measure help a very limited number of Switzerland’s “working poor”. They claim that many in this group already earn more than this minimum wage and struggle to make ends meet for other reasons. In addition, concerns that the new wage will lead to increased bureaucracy have been raised.

The minimum wage will not apply to apprentices, interns, or under-25-year-olds without working qualifications beyond compulsory schooling.

On June 18, voters in the canton Zurich municipality of Winterthur accepted a minimum wage of CHF23. Around 3,600 people - 5 per cent of all employees - in the city will benefit.

There is no nationwide minimum wage in Switzerland, however, five of the country’s 26 cantons have introduced one following popular votes: Neuchâtel, Jura, Ticino, Geneva and Basel City. Rates in the cantons reportedly vary from around CHF20-23 per hour.

The successful vote marks the first time that a minimum wage has been introduced at a municipal (local) level in Switzerland.

But questions have been raised about whether such a local measure is legally admissible and, according to reporting from the Keystone-SDA news agency, the matter could still come before a court.

Source: SWI

In Zurich, voters have approved a CHF23.90 ($26.74) minimum wage that left-wing groups say will help the city’s working poor. On June 18, Winterthur - a neighbouring Swiss city - also accepted minimum wage measures, SWI reports.

Around 69.4 per cent of voters in Zurich accepted the proposal. It has the potential to benefit around 17,000 workers who currently earn less than CHF23 per hour. 

The majority of affected workers are reportedly women in low-wage sectors such as cleaning, restaurants and retail.

Left-wing and centrist parties and charity organisations drove the campaigns for a new minimum wage, arguing that it was a necessary tool in the fight against poverty.

Opponents reportedly argued that the measure help a very limited number of Switzerland’s “working poor”. They claim that many in this group already earn more than this minimum wage and struggle to make ends meet for other reasons. In addition, concerns that the new wage will lead to increased bureaucracy have been raised.

The minimum wage will not apply to apprentices, interns, or under-25-year-olds without working qualifications beyond compulsory schooling.

On June 18, voters in the canton Zurich municipality of Winterthur accepted a minimum wage of CHF23. Around 3,600 people - 5 per cent of all employees - in the city will benefit.

There is no nationwide minimum wage in Switzerland, however, five of the country’s 26 cantons have introduced one following popular votes: Neuchâtel, Jura, Ticino, Geneva and Basel City. Rates in the cantons reportedly vary from around CHF20-23 per hour.

The successful vote marks the first time that a minimum wage has been introduced at a municipal (local) level in Switzerland.

But questions have been raised about whether such a local measure is legally admissible and, according to reporting from the Keystone-SDA news agency, the matter could still come before a court.

Source: SWI