Politics · Switzerland · 12 hrs ago
Swiss unions prepare initiative for 5,000-franc minimum wage after apprenticeships
The Swiss Trade Union Federation is preparing a popular initiative to raise the status of vocational training.
It would require people who have completed an apprenticeship to receive a minimum monthly wage of 5,000 francs.
The union says almost three in ten people with an apprenticeship earn less than that, and women are especially affected.
The union also says the share of workers with apprenticeship qualifications has fallen over the past 30 years, while the share with university qualifications has grown.
The union’s leaders will decide when to launch the initiative and whether to include eight weeks of holiday for apprentices.
To bring a popular initiative to a national vote, its supporters must collect 100,000 valid signatures.
Switzerland’s employers’ groups oppose fixed legal rules, arguing that wages and training conditions should be set by the social partners.
The Swiss Trade Union Federation is preparing a popular initiative that would require a minimum monthly wage of 5,000 francs for people who have completed an apprenticeship.
Delegates at a congress in Bern instructed the federation’s leadership to draft the initiative text.
The federation says almost three in ten people with vocational qualifications earn less than 5,000 francs per month, with women particularly affected.
The leadership will consider whether the initiative should also seek eight weeks of holiday for apprentices.
Employer groups oppose fixed legal requirements, saying wages and training conditions should be set by the social partners.
- Who
- The Swiss Trade Union Federation is preparing the initiative; Swiss employer groups oppose it.
- What
- The proposed initiative would set a minimum monthly wage of 5,000 francs for people who have completed an apprenticeship. The federation is also considering eight weeks of holiday for apprentices.
- When
- Delegates gave the instruction at a congress; the federation announced it on Friday. The exact date the initiative will be launched has not been decided.
- Where
- Switzerland; the delegates met in Bern.
- Why
- The federation says many people with vocational qualifications earn less than 5,000 francs per month and wants to make apprenticeships more attractive.
Swiss Trade Union Federation
Swiss employer groups
Minimum wage
Swiss Trade Union Federation
The federation says apprenticeship graduates should be able to live on their wages and proposes a 5,000-franc monthly minimum.
Swiss employer groups
The Swiss Employers’ Association rejects rigid, general legal requirements for vocational training.
How to regulate wages and training
Swiss Trade Union Federation
The federation is preparing a popular initiative to improve the appeal of apprenticeships.
Swiss employer groups
The Employers’ Association says wages and training conditions should be regulated by the social partners.
Need for action
Swiss Trade Union Federation
The federation says many apprentices face pressure and inadequate support, and that vocational training needs to be upgraded.
Swiss employer groups
The Swiss Trade Association says there is no actual need for action on the federation’s proposals and calls instead for stronger basic school skills and less bureaucracy for training businesses.
A study found that more than 80 percent of apprentices said their training was going well or very well.
Blick reported online on the union federation’s initiative plans.
The federation said delegates at a congress in Bern had instructed its leadership to draft the initiative text.
- Proposed minimum wage
- 5,000 francs per month
- People earning below proposed minimum
- Almost three in ten people with vocational qualifications
- Possible additional measure
- Eight weeks of holiday for apprentices
- Signatures needed for a popular initiative
- 100,000 valid signatures
What people are saying
firmly rejects the rigid and general legal requirements in vocational training
their apprenticeship period is not the success story that the Swiss vocational education system likes to portray
The SGB is misusing vocational education to promote itself on the back of apprenticeships