Federal Cabinet Rejects Minimum Wage Bid
by: Malcolm Curtis
Published on January 17, 2013
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The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions launched an initiative to set the minimum wage to a legal 22 francs an hour. They thought this was necessary to counteract the high cost of living in Switzerland; also, the union found that it was unacceptable for 140,000 apprentices to earn less than 4,000 francs a month. Although, the minimum wage would have to be roughly twice as much as those in France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Therefore, the federal government rejected the bill because they think that there are other ways to counter the high cost of living with the low income.
I feel the Swiss government is fair in rejecting this minimum wage bill because of how high the minimum wage is. Switzerland is not known as a land of high poverty, the reason the minimum wage seems low is because of the cost of living. However, if you want to live in Swiss, you should already know there is a high cost of living so there has to be sacrifices. You cannot expect the government to help you live in a fancy, high-maintenance area by making it easier to live there. It would also threaten many business sectors who would suffer from having to pay their employees an over-excessive amount.
The article relates to the Swiss politics and government because it deals with a social/economic problem with which the government has to address. The federal cabinet - which is the main legislature in Switzerland - opposes a certain move by a labor union that calls for raising minimum wages. Politically it is the higher governmental officials versus normal everyday workers and their unions.
Published on January 17, 2013
Click here to read this article!
The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions launched an initiative to set the minimum wage to a legal 22 francs an hour. They thought this was necessary to counteract the high cost of living in Switzerland; also, the union found that it was unacceptable for 140,000 apprentices to earn less than 4,000 francs a month. Although, the minimum wage would have to be roughly twice as much as those in France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Therefore, the federal government rejected the bill because they think that there are other ways to counter the high cost of living with the low income.
I feel the Swiss government is fair in rejecting this minimum wage bill because of how high the minimum wage is. Switzerland is not known as a land of high poverty, the reason the minimum wage seems low is because of the cost of living. However, if you want to live in Swiss, you should already know there is a high cost of living so there has to be sacrifices. You cannot expect the government to help you live in a fancy, high-maintenance area by making it easier to live there. It would also threaten many business sectors who would suffer from having to pay their employees an over-excessive amount.
The article relates to the Swiss politics and government because it deals with a social/economic problem with which the government has to address. The federal cabinet - which is the main legislature in Switzerland - opposes a certain move by a labor union that calls for raising minimum wages. Politically it is the higher governmental officials versus normal everyday workers and their unions.