Voters will decide on the introduction of cantonal minimum wages; Swiss tenants could demand charging stations for electric vehicles in their buildings; plus other news in our roundup this Monday.
Voters will decide on the introduction of cantonal minimum wages
The fate of cantonal minimum wages will be decided at the ballot box.
The Swiss Trade Union Federation (SGB) announced on Friday the launch of a referendum against the push in the Parliament that prioritises collective labour agreements (CLAs) over statuary minimum salaries.
According to the SGB, such moves “constitute an attack on democratic decisions” made in the cantons and municipalities where minimum wages are already in effect or will be soon – such as Geneva, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Jura, Zurich, and Winterthur,
Tenants in Switzerland could demand charging stations for their electric vehicles
The lack of charging points is a problem for owners of electric cars, who don’t have much leverage to pressure landlords regarding the installation of such infrastructure in their buildings.
To remedy this situation, the Federal Council submitted a draft amendment to the Energy Act for public consultation.
It would require owners of residential buildings to install basic charging stations at the request of their tenants.
Record traffic jams paralysed Swiss roads in 2025
In Switzerland, motorists are increasingly often stuck in traffic jams – 68,040 hours spent waiting in bottlenecks last year.
Compared to 2024, the number of hours spent in traffic increased by 22 percent, according to the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA).
Its spokesperson, Jérôme Jacky, confirmed that traffic jams “have become more frequent, last longer, and are increasingly difficult to predict.”
This problem mainly affects motorways, where traffic has grown by140 percent, “causing the road network to reach its capacity limits.”
READ MORE: The numbers that reveal how bad traffic on Swiss motorways has become
Most Swiss are against anchoring neutrality in the Constitution
If the recent poll is correct, the far-right’s initiative to safeguard Switzerland’s neutrality will not pass.
According to a voter survey carried out by market research institute Leewas, 54 percent of respondents said they will vote ‘no’ to the initiative at the ballot box on September 27th, while only 34 percent will say ‘yes.’
Instigated by the sovereigntist organisation Pro Schweiz – an offshoot of the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP) – the initiaitve seeks to enshrine Swiss neutrality in the Constitution as “perpetual and armed,” while keeping the country out of international alliances such as NATO and restricting the government’s right to impose sanctions on rogue nations.
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