Minimum Wage in Switzerland
Switzerland has no single federal minimum wage. After a 2014 national referendum rejected a CHF 22/hour federal minimum, the regulation shifted to the cantons and collective agreements. Today, a patchwork of cantonal minimums and GAV sector minimums protects the lowest-paid workers — with significant geographic variation.
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Cantonal Minimum Wages 2026
As of 2026, the following cantons have statutory minimum wages: Geneva: CHF 24.32/hour (highest in Switzerland), Neuchâtel: CHF 21.09/hour, Jura: CHF 20.60/hour, Ticino: CHF 19.60/hour, Basel-City: CHF 21.00/hour, Zurich: still under debate (initiative passed, implementation ongoing). Cantons without a minimum wage rely on collective agreements (GAV) to set floors. Importantly, cantonal minimums override lower GAV minimums.
GAV Sector Minimums
Collective agreements (GAV/CCT) in many sectors set binding minimum wages that apply to all firms in the sector if the GAV is declared generally binding (AVE). Key examples: L-GAV Gastgewerbe (hospitality): from CHF 3,950–4,550/month depending on qualification; LMV (construction): from CHF 24.50–27.80/hour; GAV cleaning: CHF 19.50–21.60/hour. These sector minimums are often higher than cantonal floors. Check the SECO GAV database (gav.ch) for your sector.
What If You Are Paid Below Minimum?
If your wage is below the applicable cantonal or GAV minimum, you have legal recourse: the minimum automatically applies — the difference can be claimed retroactively for 5 years (statute of limitations). For GAV violations, the sector's joint commission (Paritätische Kommission/PK) can audit and sanction employers. For cantonal minimums, cantonal labour inspectorates enforce compliance. Pro bono advice is available from unions and cantonal labour offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Switzerland have a national minimum wage?
No. The 2014 federal referendum rejected a CHF 22/hour national minimum. Instead, several cantons have set their own minimums, and many sectors have GAV minimums. In practice, market wages in Switzerland are generally much higher than minimum wages.
Which canton has the highest minimum wage in Switzerland?
Geneva, with CHF 24.32/hour in 2026. It was the first Swiss canton to introduce a statutory minimum wage in 2020.
I earn less than the GAV minimum — what can I do?
Contact the sector's joint commission (Paritätische Kommission) or your cantonal labour inspectorate. You can also claim the underpayment directly from your employer, retroactively for up to 5 years. Trade union advice is free for members.