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Switzerland holds referendum on basic income Switzerland 'rejects basic income', poll projections suggest
(about 1 hour later)
Switzerland is voting on whether to introduce a guaranteed basic income for every citizen, becoming the first country to hold such a vote. Projections from a referendum in Switzerland suggest voters have rejected a plan to introduce a guaranteed basic income for all.
The proposal calls for adults to be paid an unconditional monthly income, whether they work or not. Some 78% of voters opposed the plan, a GFS projection for Swiss TV suggested.
Supporters of the idea say 21st Century work is increasingly automated, with fewer jobs available for workers. The proposal had called for adults to be paid an unconditional monthly income, whether they worked or not.
But polls suggest that only about one quarter of Swiss voters back the idea. Supporters said since work was increasingly automated, fewer jobs were available for workers. Switzerland is the first country to hold such a vote.
No figure has been set, but those behind the proposal have suggested a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs (£1,755; $2,555) for adults and SFr625 for each child, reflecting the high cost of living in Switzerland. It is not clear how it would affect people on higher salaries. No figure for the basic income had been set, but those behind the proposal suggested a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs (£1,755; $2,555) for adults and SFr625 for each child, reflecting the high cost of living in Switzerland. It is not clear how it would affect people on higher salaries.
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There is little support among Swiss politicians for the idea and not a single parliamentary party has come out in favour, but the proposal gathered more than 100,000 signatures and is therefore being put to the vote under the Swiss popular initiative system. There was little support among Swiss politicians for the idea and not a single parliamentary party has come out in favour, but the proposal gathered more than 100,000 signatures and was therefore put to the vote under the Swiss popular initiative system.
Critics of the measure say that disconnecting the link between work done and money earned would be bad for society.Critics of the measure say that disconnecting the link between work done and money earned would be bad for society.
But Che Wagner from the campaign group Basic Income Switzerland, says it wouldn't be money for nothing.But Che Wagner from the campaign group Basic Income Switzerland, says it wouldn't be money for nothing.
"In Switzerland over 50% of total work that is done is unpaid. It's care work, it's at home, it's in different communities, so that work would be more valued with a basic income.""In Switzerland over 50% of total work that is done is unpaid. It's care work, it's at home, it's in different communities, so that work would be more valued with a basic income."
The popular initiative systemThe popular initiative system
But Luzi Stamm, who's a member of parliament for the right-wing Swiss People's Party, opposes the idea.But Luzi Stamm, who's a member of parliament for the right-wing Swiss People's Party, opposes the idea.
"Theoretically, if Switzerland were an island, the answer is yes. But with open borders, it's a total impossibility, especially for Switzerland, with a high living standard," he says."Theoretically, if Switzerland were an island, the answer is yes. But with open borders, it's a total impossibility, especially for Switzerland, with a high living standard," he says.
"If you would offer every individual a Swiss amount of money, you would have billions of people who would try to move into Switzerland.""If you would offer every individual a Swiss amount of money, you would have billions of people who would try to move into Switzerland."
The wording on the initiative is vague, asking for a constitutional change to "guarantee the introduction of an unconditional basic income" but with no mention of amounts. The wording on the initiative was vague, asking for a constitutional change to "guarantee the introduction of an unconditional basic income" but with no mention of amounts.
The idea is also under consideration elsewhere. In Finland, the government is considering a trial to give basic income to about 8,000 people from low-income groups.The idea is also under consideration elsewhere. In Finland, the government is considering a trial to give basic income to about 8,000 people from low-income groups.
And in the Dutch city of Utrecht is also developing a pilot project which will begin in January 2017.And in the Dutch city of Utrecht is also developing a pilot project which will begin in January 2017.
The basic income is one of five issues on the Swiss ballot on Sunday. The basic income was among five issues on the Swiss ballot on Sunday.
The Swiss will also vote on a "pro-public service" initiative which would turn state-owned companies into non-profit organisations. It would also seek to limit such companies from paying their executives salaries higher than those paid to comparable public employees. They included a proposal to speed up the country's asylum process. The projections suggested 66% in favour.
Executive pay has been subject to a referendum in Switzerland before. In 2013, 65% of voters rejected a plan to limit business leaders' pay to 12 times that of a junior member of staff. A proposal to allow genetic testing of embryos before they are inserted in the uterus in cases of in-vitro fertilisation, where either parent carries a serious hereditary disease, was projected to pass with 61%.