Swiss union economist Daniel Lampart to leave after 20 years

Daniel Lampart is leaving his role as chief economist of the Swiss Trade Union Federation after 20 years.

He helped develop the idea for Switzerland’s 13th state pension payment, which voters approved.

Lampart says the initiative did not specify how to pay for it because the pension system redistributes income, making even value-added tax funding fair in his view.

He argues the extra payment matters as occupational pension payments fall and living costs rise.

The federation has lost more than 60,000 members over two decades, and Lampart says strong unions are needed to prevent inequality from growing.

A 2014 union initiative for a minimum wage of 4,000 Swiss francs was rejected by 76% of voters, though Lampart says it helped bring attention to low wages.

His final workday will be at the union congress at the end of November, where apprentices’ holidays will be discussed and the federation will set out proposals.