Voters in Switzerland overwhelmingly reject guaranteed income plan

Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal that would have guaranteed a basic income for all residents, with nearly 77 percent opposed to the measure.

Only 23 percent of voters supported the proposal, which called for giving adults, whether or not they work, a suggested 2,500 Swiss francs ($2,560) a month, as well as 625 Swiss francs ($640) per child. Switzerland was the first country to hold such a vote.

Supporters said as more jobs become obsolete due to advanced technology, there aren't enough employment opportunities, while opponents claimed such a proposal would bring more people to the country, looking for a handout. "In Switzerland, over 50 percent of total work that is done is unpaid," Che Wagner from Basic Income Switzerland told the BBC. "It's care work, it's at home, it's in different communities, so that work would be more valued with a basic income."

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