Wage war

Does a legally fixed minimum wage still make sense in the current economic crisis?

This content was published on January 23, 2012 - 11:10

1 minute

For some, a minimum wage improves the living standards of workers, reduces poverty and forces businesses to be more efficient. Others see it as a cause of unemployment and inflation with the only winners being countries with no minimum wage.

Where do you stand – and has the economic crisis changed your view?

The initiative “for the protection of fair salaries” was handed in by the Trade Union Federation on January 16. It calls for a minimum salary of SFr22 per hour or around SFr4,000 a month.

The minimum wage should be adjusted regularly to price and wage developments, but in proportion to the pension index of the old-age and survivors’ insurance.

It also calls on the government and cantons to ensure that general labour contracts fix a minimum wage according to the place of work, profession and economic sector.

According to the Federal Statistics Office there are around 120,000 working poor in Switzerland.

Only canton Neuchâtel has so far decided to introduce a minimum wage.

Calls for a minimum wage mount

This content was published on Jan 21, 2012 Signatures supporting an initiative calling for a minimum wage were handed in on Monday, despite opposition from employers. But the practice is already widespread across much of Europe. In recent decades, the wage gap has exploded, also in Switzerland. Whereas around 30 years ago a manager earned a maximum 30 times more than their least…

Site inspections track labour law abuses

This content was published on Jan 20, 2012 To safeguard against wage and social dumping, accompanying measures were agreed. In Switzerland, inspectors are charged with checking that these are adhered to. swissinfo.ch accompanied an inspector on a construction site visit. “Hello, we met once before, in 2009”. Stefan Hirt greets the two German tile layers in a friendly but not too familiar way.…

Minimum wage comes under the spotlight

This content was published on Dec 6, 2011 In January the Trade Union Federation launched a people’s initiative calling for a minimum wage of SFr4,000 ($4,350) per month – triple the European average – and is expected to hand in signatures to force a nationwide vote early next year. On November 27, 54 per cent of Neuchâtel voters agreed to the principle of…

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Wage dumping

This content was published on May 3, 2011 The building and restaurant sectors are among those more exposed to salary undercutting and other illegal practices towards the foreign work force. The case of a kitchen apprentice who used to work for less than the minimum wage. (TSR/swissinfo.ch)

Wage war

Minimum wage initiative