This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36454060
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Switzerland 'rejects basic income', poll projections suggest | Switzerland 'rejects basic income', poll projections suggest |
(35 minutes later) | |
Projections from a referendum in Switzerland suggest voters have rejected a plan to introduce a guaranteed basic income for all. | Projections from a referendum in Switzerland suggest voters have rejected a plan to introduce a guaranteed basic income for all. |
Some 78% of voters opposed the plan, a GFS projection for Swiss TV suggested. | Some 78% of voters opposed the plan, a GFS projection for Swiss TV suggested. |
The proposal had called for adults to be paid an unconditional monthly income, whether they worked or not. | The proposal had called for adults to be paid an unconditional monthly income, whether they worked or not. |
Supporters said since work was increasingly automated, fewer jobs were available for workers. Switzerland is the first country to hold such a vote. | 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 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. | 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. |
Intelligent Machines: The jobs robots will steal first | Intelligent Machines: The jobs robots will steal first |
What is artificial intelligence? | What is artificial intelligence? |
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. | 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 system | The 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 was 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. |
Another four issues were on the Swiss ballot on Sunday. | |