(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Rne may 18 (qna) - switzerland will go to the polls on sunday over whether to introduce the world’s highest minimum wage.
the government business leaders and 64% of voters according to one opinion poll are against the proposal. if approved employers would be obliged to pay workers a monthly minimum of 4000 swiss francs ($4470).
supporters say it would create a decent life for all swiss citizens.
but critics warn that a minimum wage increase will result in layoffs.
switzerland’s direct democracy has allowed its citizens to vote on a number of issues including immigration and executive pay.
they unexpectedly voted in february to curb immigration from the european union – switzerland’s biggest trading partner with which it now shares free movement of labour – ignoring warnings from business that such a move would hurt the economy.
the government meanwhile warned a minimum wage "would threaten jobs and make it even more difficult for little qualified staff and young people to find a first job".
economie suisse a federation of swiss businesses said it was a mistake that was not in the interest of employees it claims to help.
in 2012 according to the federal statistics office 10 percent of full-time or equivalent swiss jobs paid less than two-thirds of the median salary with lower paid jobs found mainly in shops hotels and personal services. of 339000 people on a low salary two out of three were women. (qna)
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