Swiss unions to fight bill undermining local minimum wages

A proposed law in Switzerland threatens to dismantle minimum wage standards established by local governments, sparking strong opposition from labor unions. The bill, championed by a parliamentarian from the Center party in Obwalden, aims to override the minimum wage ordinances already voted into law in cantons like Geneva and Neuchâtel, as well as in cities such as Zurich and Winterthur.

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Anyone who works in Switzerland must be able to live decently from their salary.

Economist David Gallusser of the Swiss Trade Union Federation argues that the legislation is fundamentally flawed. He asserts that anyone working in Switzerland should earn a living wage. The bill, if passed, would particularly impact low-wage sectors including hospitality, cleaning services, hairdressing, and bakeries, potentially rolling back protections that have recently been implemented.

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He is alarmed to the point of wanting to override the popular will expressed in French-speaking Switzerland and in large German-speaking cities.

Gallusser stated that the intention behind the bill is to override the popular will expressed in various cantons and cities. He believes that if the parliament approves this measure, trade unions will mobilize to launch a referendum. He is confident that the proposal will ultimately be rejected by voters at the ballot box, reinforcing the importance of local control over wage standards.

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If this is not the case, the unions will launch a referendum and the project will fail at the ballot box at the latest.