At a vote on June 18, Swiss citizens in Winterthur and Zurich approved a plan to create an all-encompassing minimum wage for both cities. Here’s what you need to know about the plans, who the minimum wage will apply to, when it will come into force, how much it will be and how it will impact jobs and businesses.
With 65,52 percent of the vote in Winterthur and 69,43 percent in Zurich, locals approved the popular “A wage to live on” initiative on June 18, 2023. The plan, initially revised and accepted by Zurich’s parliament in January, will see both areas become just the sixth and seventh areas of Switzerland where a minimum wage is in force.
Speaking to 20 Minuten, the committee in support of the vote said that the result was a “breakthrough”, with Social Democratic National Councillor Cédric Wermuth calling the moment “historic”. The committee added that by accepting the proposal, people in Zurich have sent a clear signal to federal authorities that recent attempts to undermine minimum wage laws are “undemocratic”.
The “No Minimum Wage” committee, headed by FDP. The Liberals and Green Liberal parties, said that they would be respecting the outcome of the vote. However, in a statement given to 20 Minuten, they said that it will now be up to the “left-green camp" to implement the “state wage dictate” in as business-friendly a way as possible.
With the vote now approved, Zurich and Winterthur become only the second and third areas of German-speaking Switzerland to have a minimum wage - after Basel. To help people navigate the new policy, here's what you need to know about the change and how it will impact salaries.
Under the plans, workers will receive a minimum of 23,90 francs per hour in Zurich, ensuring a monthly salary of at least 4.000 francs. In Winterthur, the minimum wage will be set at 23 francs an hour.
The minimum wage will apply to everyone whose job is based in the city of - not the canton of - Zurich, and Winterthur. It will also be in place for those who are technically employed elsewhere but who “mainly work” within city limits. The policy applies to those on collective bargaining (GAV) and regular work contracts.
Authorities confirmed that the minimum wage will be indexed to inflation - the initial proposal in Zurich sought a minimum wage of 23 francs an hour, but due to inflation this increased. “Wage developments” and inflation will be reviewed annually to make sure those on minimum wage can keep up with rising prices.
However, there will be occupations and workers who will be exempt from the minimum wage in Zurich. These exemptions are:
Despite the exemptions, Zurich City Council estimates that around 17.000 people stand to benefit from the new minimum wage.
The minimum wage will be enforced by city authorities, who will check businesses regularly to see if they are following the rules. Companies found to be breaking the rules will be subject to fines.
Now that the proposal is approved, businesses will have a maximum of two years to start paying employees the minimum wage - but this maximum timeframe will only be granted to companies that can prove they are in "financial difficulty." The body responsible for enforcing the policy is expected to be established in the coming weeks, with authorities planning a full report on how the wage is affecting the economy in 2026.
For more information about the law, check out the official website (in German).
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