One of the richest cities in the world sets a minimum wage that supporters say is relatively prohibitive.
Geneva, which ranks by most measures in the top five for the most expensive places in the world to live in, has agreed a minimum wage that could be considered luxurious anywhere, but only aims to provide food on the table to its poorest workers.
On Sunday, the Swiss city voted by a two-thirds majority to introduce a minimum wage of 23 Swiss francs ($ 25) an hour for 41 hours worked a week. CNBC reported. That amounts to somewhere in the range of $ 4,100 a month, or $ 53,300 a year, which makes it The highest minimum wage ever.
By comparison, the federal minimum wage in the US is $ 7.25 an hour – with Conditions for each country separately Which, in the case of Oklahoma, has a base minimum of only $ 2 an hour in some employment situations. Across the Swiss border, in France, the minimum wage is less than half of Geneva, The Guardian reported.
The procedure will be carried out this month, According to an organization Representation of workers across borders from France and Switzerland.
The group wrote in a brief post, praising the decision, noting that the opposite result “could have compromised the freedom of movement of individuals.” Through these voices, Geneva was able to maintain its appeal by refusing to close borders and introduce a minimum wage. Nearly 200,000 workers cross the border. ”Opponents of the new minimum wage have argued that it will eliminate jobs and increase unemployment.
Voters rejected this measure twice, in 2011 and 2014.
The current pandemic has shed new light on the persistent problem of poverty in Geneva, which the Coronavirus has significantly exacerbated. Last month, France 3 TV reported that despite the city’s wealthy reputation, thousands had lately been in line from dawn to get free food. According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, about 8% of the Swiss population lives in poverty.
“[It] “It was amazing to see how vulnerable this population was immediately caused by this crisis,” Isabelle Widmer, the chief crisis response coordinator in Geneva, told France 3.
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