A narrow majority of the voters tends to approve an initiative to establish a minimum wage of 4,000 francs (3,280 euro) a month, according to the results of a survey. The poll found that 52% of respondents approved the minimum wage proposal, set to be decided in a May 18th referendum. Support for the minimum pay, equivalent to 18 euro an hour, was stronger (59%) in the French-speaking regions than in German-speaking regions. The trade union confederation SGB, which launched the minimum wage proposal, argues that 330,000 workers earn less than 4,000 francs a month, an amount judged to be insufficient to cope with the country’s high cost of living. The proposal is opposed by the government and both houses of parliament.
English: http://www.thelocal.ch/20140316/voters-back-swiss-minimum-wage-initiative-poll
For more information, please contact the editor Jan Cremers, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) cbn-aias@uva.nl or the communications officer at the ETUI, Mariya Nikolova mnikolova@etui.org. For previous issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit http://www.etui.org/E-Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net.