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."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.