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Updated on 14 November 2026 : on 13 November 2026, in Bern, delegates at the SGB congress approved the draft initiative by a large majority. They instructed the leadership to continue drafting it, according to La Liberté.
Background
Since May 2024, the Swiss Trade Union Federation (SGB/USS) has been calling for a salary of at least 5,000 francs a month after an apprenticeship. According to its calculations at the time, one in three holders of a federal VET diploma (CFC) earned less than this amount, on a full-time basis. The lowest wages are found mainly in occupations with a high share of women.
The key points
On 11 November 2026, the SGB announced that it intends to put this demand into a popular initiative. The text would be launched next year, if the SGB congress gives its approval. Its president, Pierre-Yves Maillard, believes that apprenticeships must pay off again.
Employer organisations oppose it. The Swiss Trade Association (USAM/sgv) considers the demand extreme and fears fewer apprenticeship places. The Swiss Employers’ Association rejects a state-set minimum wage and supports solutions negotiated by sector.
Wage levels vary widely from one canton to another, which complicates a single amount for the whole of Switzerland, notes Le Temps.
Key figures
- 5,000 francs : minimum monthly wage demanded after a federal VET diploma
- 1 in 3 : share of VET diploma holders below this threshold, according to the SGB in 2024
- 8 weeks : holidays demanded for apprentices, compared with 5 weeks legal minimum
Who says what
- Pierre-Yves Maillard (president of the SGB): wages must provide a living
- Fabio Regazzi (president of the Swiss Trade Association): a uniform rule would make training more expensive; he wants room for manoeuvre by sector and region
- Nicole Meier (Swiss Employers’ Association, head of education): a state minimum wage could hold back young people entering the labour market
What it means for businesses
- Training companies : no obligation at this stage; the text must still be launched, signed and voted on
What's next
- Draft approved by the SGB congress on 13 November 2026 ; the leadership is continuing to draft the text, with a launch announced for 2027
Further reading
Sources
- La Liberté – Vocational training: the SGB wants a minimum wage after an apprenticeship
- Swiss Trade Union Federation – At least 5,000 francs after a federal VET diploma (31 May 2024) (official source)
- Blick – Employers up in arms against a 5,000-franc minimum wage
- Le Temps – A 5,000-franc minimum wage runs up against income gaps between cantons
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