World’s highest minimum wage: Switzerland votes

Switzerland held a referendum on the 18 May 2014 to decide whether to introduce what would be the highest minimum wage anywhere in the world.

If approved, employers would be obliged to pay workers a monthly minimum of 4,000 Swiss francs (£2,680) or 22 Swiss francs (£14.70 / €18) an hour - which works out as just over £32,000 a year.

The proposal was put forward by made by the SGB union and supported by the Socialist and Green parties.

The government and business interests opposed a minimum wage.

In the event 76.3% of voters voted against the initiative. Voter turnout was 55.5%.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 12.05.14: Switzlerand: referendum may herald world's highest minimum wage http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/switzerland-referendum-highest-minimum-wage

The Local.ch, 26.02.14: Swiss to vote on world's highest minimum wage http://www.thelocal.ch/20140226/no-to-worlds-highest-minimum-wage-swiss-economy-chief

The Local.ch, 13.05.14: Voters expected to reject minimum wage bid http://www.thelocal.ch/20140513/voters-expected-to-reject-gripen-fighter-deal

Swissinfo.ch, 24.04.14: Minimum wages threaten the labour market / Minimum wages aren’t always bad for the economy http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Minimum_wages_threaten_the_labour_market.html?cid=38425190

Swissinfo.ch, 18.05.14: Swiss say no to world’s highest minimum wage http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Swiss_say_no_to_world_s_highest_minimum_wage.html?cid=38543758

BBC News, 18.05.14: Switzerland rejects world's highest minimum wage http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27459178

The Local.ch, 18.05.14: Swiss reject lofty minimum wage: poll http://www.thelocal.ch/20140518/swiss-vote-on-worlds-highest-minimum-wage

EurActiv, 19.05.14: Swiss reject world's highest minimum wage http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/swiss-reject-worlds-highest-minimum-wage-302203

The Guardian, 18.05.14: Swiss voters reject plan to establish world's highest minimum wage http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/18/switzerland-voters-minimum-wage-plan-rejected

The New York Times, 18.05.14: Swiss Voters Defeat $24.65 Minimum Wage by a Wide Margin http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/19/business/international/swiss-defeat-minimum-wage-by-large-margin.html

Euronews, 18.05.14: News Swiss voters reject minimum wage and purchase of new warplanes http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/18/swiss-voters-reject-minimum-wage-and-purchase-of-new-warplanes/

Deutsche Welle, 18.05.14: Swiss referendum turns down minimum wage and new fighter jets http://dw.de/p/1C26I

Die Presse, 19.05.14: Minimum wage: Swiss display swarm intelligence (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE143574-Minimum-wage-Swiss-display-swarm-intelligence

Swissinfo.ch, 19.05.14: Minimum salary rejection confirms status quo http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Minimum_salary_rejection_confirms_status_quo_.html?cid=38611738

---