If it passes, each citizen – along with foreigners who have been resident in the country for at least five years – would receive around 2,500 francs a month.
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Under the proposal, which was put forward by an independent citizens’ group, adults would receive about $2,500 from the government every month and children about a quarter of that amount.
Based on a partial count of results from 19 Swiss cantons (states), the gfs.bern polling group calculated that 78 percent of voters opposed the measure against 22 percent in favor. Supporters of the initiative said a universal basic income would also provide people whose primary work is the care of their families with a steady income.
The proposal was voted down 76.9 percent to 23.1 percent at the weekend’s referendum, the first held in any country.
Opponents led by the Swiss Radical-Liberal Party believed the cost of a “yes” vote would be exorbitant and would only weaken Switzerland’s economy.
Others also say the plan would allow them focus on what they truly enjoy in life and not just work.
Although the proposal had nearly no political support, it gathered more than 100,000 signatures, so it was put to a public vote under Switzerland’s popular initiative political system.
An ambitious proposal to guarantee every citizen a minimum income of over $30,000 per year has been overwhelmingly defeated in a Swiss referendum. Most Swiss vote in advance by post, so most ballots have already been counted, according to Agence France-Presse.
The Swiss government had urged voters to reject the campaign, saying the scheme would cost too much and undermine social cohesion. “So that work will be more valued with a basic income”, a campaigner for basic income said.
Proponents, however, insist the time has come for a minimum monthly wage as sweeping 21st-century economic changes like robots displacing factory workers make jobs more precarious in the digital age. The system differs from welfare because instead of having multiple welfare systems for food, shelter and other basic needs, unconditional basic income allocates a lump sum to individuals.
And the Dutch city of Utrecht was also developing a pilot project which would begin in January 2017. But Sunday’s vote proved that “people don’t want this”, member of parliament Jean-Christophe Schwaab told Swiss television.
“Switzerland should see the basic income as an investment in the future”, he had said.
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The Swiss public also followed the government’s recommendation on voting overwhelmingly against an initiative to give everyone in the country a basic income, but that didn’t stop the global press from calling it a bold experiment in wealth re-distribution.
