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- On September 30, 2025, the Swiss federal Council confirmed that a nationwide referendum will be held on february 28, 2026, to decide whether to implement an unconditional basic...
- The proposed UBI would provide every adult Swiss citizen with a monthly payment of 2,500 Swiss francs (approximately $2,850 USD as of September 30, 2025).
- The "Basic Income Now" group argues that the UBI will reduce poverty, improve health outcomes, foster entrepreneurship, and provide economic security in an era of increasing automation.
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Switzerland Approves World’s First Referendum on Unconditional Basic Income (UBI)
What Happened?
On September 30, 2025, the Swiss federal Council confirmed that a nationwide referendum will be held on february 28, 2026, to decide whether to implement an unconditional basic income (UBI) for all Swiss citizens. This marks the first time a country will put such a proposal to a popular vote, potentially reshaping the nation’s social safety net and labor market. The initiative, spearheaded by the group “Basic Income Now,” gathered over 120,000 signatures, exceeding the 100,000 required to trigger a referendum according to Swiss law.
The Proposed UBI: Details and Funding
The proposed UBI would provide every adult Swiss citizen with a monthly payment of 2,500 Swiss francs (approximately $2,850 USD as of September 30, 2025). This amount is intended to cover basic living expenses, regardless of income, employment status, or other factors. Children would receive a smaller, proportional amount. The initiative proposes funding the UBI through a combination of measures, including:
- Increased Value Added Tax (VAT)
- A reduction in certain existing social welfare programs (though not eliminating them entirely)
- A potential increase in income tax for higher earners.
The “Basic Income Now” group argues that the UBI will reduce poverty, improve health outcomes, foster entrepreneurship, and provide economic security in an era of increasing automation. Opponents, including several political parties and economic groups, express concerns about the cost, potential disincentive to work, and the overall impact on the Swiss economy.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Monthly Payment (Adult) | 2,500 CHF (approx. $2,850 USD as of Sept 30, 2025) |
| Monthly Payment (Child) | Proportional amount, details to be finalized |
| Funding Sources | Increased VAT, reduced welfare programs, potential income tax increase |
Switzerland and UBI: A History of Experimentation
Switzerland has a long history of exploring option economic models and direct democracy.Several pilot programs testing UBI concepts have been conducted in various Swiss cantons (regions) over the past decade. For example, a pilot program in the canton of Basel-Stadt, concluded in 2023, showed mixed results, with participants reporting improved well-being but no critically importent changes in employment rates Swissinfo. These earlier experiments have informed the current national initiative, providing valuable data and insights.
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