Lucerne voters to decide fate of 22.75-franc minimum wage

Voters in the city of Lucerne will decide on September 27 whether to retain a minimum wage of 22.75 francs per hour, SRF reports. The wage floor has applied since the beginning of 2026 and is currently unique among municipalities in the canton of Lucerne.

The minimum wage was introduced through the “Living wages now” initiative launched by the Young Socialists. The city parliament approved the initiative in 2024. Conservative parties opposed it at the time, but a referendum failed to qualify because not enough signatures were collected.

The GLP, Centre, FDP and SVP later made a new attempt to overturn the wage floor. They asked the city government to present legislation repealing the regulation. The city government instead supports retaining it, calling its introduction a clear commitment to fair and living wages in Lucerne.

The city government also points to a June 2026 ruling by the Federal Supreme Court. The court found that the cities of Zurich and Winterthur, which also have minimum wages, could combat in-work poverty as effectively as the canton because they were familiar with local conditions.

The city parliament agreed to hold a referendum to legitimise the regulation. The issue will therefore go to a public vote.

Opponents call it a municipal exception

An alliance led by the Lucerne City Business Association is campaigning to repeal the minimum wage. The committee objects in particular to the fact that the wage floor applies only at municipal level.

“The Lucerne economic region also includes Emmen, Ebikon and Horw, but the minimum wage does not apply there. That makes things very difficult for companies,” said Benjamin Koch, president of the business association. “We all want fair wages. But this special arrangement is not workable.”

Lucerne is one of only a few cities with a minimum wage. Opposition is also growing at cantonal and national level. The cantonal parliament has instructed the government to seek a legal ban on municipal minimum wages.

At national level, the Federal Parliament wants wages set in generally binding collective labour agreements to be able to override a higher minimum wage set by a canton or municipality.

Supporters cite 3,000 workers

Caroline Rey, president of the Lucerne Trade Union Federation, rejects the argument that the minimum wage is an isolated solution. Her federation is campaigning with the Social Democratic Party and the Greens to retain it.

“Anyone providing services within the city should receive this minimum wage,” Rey said. She added that companies operating in several locations were free to raise wages elsewhere as well.

Rey estimates that about 3,000 people now earn more because of the minimum wage. They work mainly in low-wage sectors such as logistics and retail. The figure comes from the national wage structure survey and was calculated for the city of Lucerne.

Koch questioned the estimate, saying he knew of no such cases. He also argued that expensive inspections would not cover all affected workers, including couriers who work in Lucerne but whose companies are based in another canton.

The city has set a maximum budget of 130,000 francs for inspections. Rey acknowledged that the checks might not identify every violation, but said their existence could have a preventive effect.

The GLP, Centre and FDP support repealing the minimum wage, as does the SVP executive committee. The SVP will formally adopt its position on September 15. The Social Democratic Party and the Greens support retaining the wage floor and its regulation.