Switzerland: left-wing parties and unions want to impose maximum 1-12 ratio between the lowest and highest salary in the same company

Swiss left-wing parties and the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions launched, in April, the 1:12 initiative, which will give rise to a national referendum (“votation populaire”) in November 2013 – the outcome is binding.  The goal is to add to the Swiss Constitution an article providing for strict control over the remuneration of managers, limiting the highest salary in the company to up to 12 times the lowest salary in the same company.  More and more Swiss employers are expressing anger and concern.  But the initiative’s followers are determined to build on the success of the “Minder initiative” against excessive pay, approved on March 3 by 67.9% of citizens.  It removes CEOs’ golden parachutes and lets shareholders determine the directors’ remuneration.  (Ref.  130342)
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Swiss employers and businesses aren’t in a partying mood right now. Indeed, on top of the EU criticizing the Swiss banking system, two national initiatives are now questioning Swiss employers’ remuneration levels. The first, the Minder initiative, is not very restrictive in the end. It was already adopted by a large majority after a referendum on March 3. The second however, initiative 1:12, could be extremely binding. It should be subject to another referendum in November 2013, since it h

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
United States: Republican bills aim to loosen labour laws
On 20 November, the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce passed two Republican-backed bills that would allow employers to compensate overtime with paid time off and...
21 November 2025
Ireland: 2026-2030 action plan launched to promote collective bargaining
Irish employment minister Peter Burke announced on 5 November the launch of the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026–2030. Developed jointly with the Irish Congress of Trade...
Germany: bill adopted to step up fight against illegal employment
On Thursday 13 November, Germany's Bundestag passed a bill to modernise and digitalise the country’s system for tackling undeclared work and financial crime. In future, the relevant department at...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
Germany: bill adopted to step up fight against illegal employment
On Thursday 13 November, Germany's Bundestag passed a bill to modernise and digitalise the country’s system for tackling undeclared work and financial crime. In future, the relevant department at...
6
France: TotalEnergies steps up commitment on disability
On 9 October, French energy group TotalEnergies and all representative trade unions signed a new four-year agreement on disability inclusion. Taking effect on 1 January 2026, the deal aims to help...