Unions Submit 100,000+ Signatures Against Move to Override Cantonal Minimum Wages
The Swiss Trade Union Federation (SGB), Travail.Suisse, the Social Democratic Party and the Greens submitted more than 100,000 signatures in Bern on Wednesday 7 October against a parliamentary move that would let sector-wide collective labour agreements (GAV) take precedence over minimum wages set by individual cantons and municipalities. The haul is double the 50,000 signatures legally required and is expected to trigger a nationwide referendum.
The campaigners argue that cantons such as Geneva and Neuchâtel have established minimum wages through local legislation or votes, and that federal precedence for collective agreements would override those democratic decisions. Geneva has a safeguard clause; the canton also announced that its minimum wage will rise from CHF 24.59 to CHF 24.73 per hour on 1 January 2027.
Backers of the parliamentary motion say uniform industry agreements reduce regulatory fragmentation for companies operating across cantons. The Federal Chancellery will now verify the signatures; a popular vote is likely in February or June 2027.
Switzerland has no nationwide statutory minimum wage, and several cantons and cities have legislated their own — making the division of powers between Bern and the cantons a recurring point of contention.
Sources: Swiss Observer and The Local reporting.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 伯尔尼老城的钟楼，Dmitry A. Mottl 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
