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Updated on 14 November 2026<\/strong> : on 13 November 2026, in Bern, delegates at the SGB congress approved the draft initiative by a large majority<\/strong>. They instructed the leadership to continue drafting it, according to La Libert\u00e9.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/strong>, believes that apprenticeships must pay off again.<\/p>\n Employer organisations oppose it. The Swiss Trade Association (USAM\/sgv) considers the demand extreme and fears fewer apprenticeship places. The Swiss Employers\u2019 Association rejects a state-set minimum wage and supports solutions negotiated by sector.<\/p>\n Wage levels vary widely from one canton to another, which complicates a single amount for the whole of Switzerland, notes Le Temps.<\/p>\nBackground<\/h3>\n
The key points<\/h3>\n
Key figures<\/h3>\n
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Who says what<\/h3>\n
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What it means for businesses<\/h3>\n
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What's next<\/h3>\n
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Further reading<\/h3>\n