Sunday shopping and financial aid: How Switzerland's referendum results will affect you
Aside from the three issues voted on the national level on Sunday, citizens of six Swiss cantons cast their ballots on a total of 11 proposals. Here’s an overview of what the issues were.
Basel-Country: Revised law against illegal work
After years of controversy over labour market controls in the construction industry, the canton will now revise illegal employment laws.
The revision of the law on combating undeclared work was approved by 85.4 percent of the votes. And 84 percent voted in favour of the related revision of the Labour Market Supervision Act.
Bern: Sunday shop openings rejected, anti-smoking initiative approved
The proposal sought to extend Sunday sales in the canton to four Sundays a month, instead of the current two.
But 53.9 percent of voters rejected this proposal, in line with recommendations from trade unions and green parties.
At the same time, 72.9 percent of the electorate voted in favour of improved protection of minors from smoking. The same legal requirements now apply to e-cigarettes as to conventional products.
Geneva: Financial aid for people with low incomes
More than 68 percent of voters accepted a proposal to compensate residents who suffered financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The law provides for compensation of 80 percent of income, capped at 4,000 francs per month. This aid is to be paid out retrospectively for the period of the first shutdown, from March 17th to May 16th, 2020.
Luzern: University location to be expanded
Luzern will establish a public company that will expand and operate the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts campus in the municipality of Horw on the canton’s behalf.
Nearly 69 percent of the canton’s electorate approved the project.
Additionally, a loan of 26.1 million francs for the improvement works to the K36 cantonal road in the communities of Schüpfheim and Escholzmatt-Marbach was approved by 82.7 percent of votes.
The road is at risk of falling stones and authorities want to make it safer for drivers.
Zurich: Nationalities of criminals to be divulged and municipalities to employ social detectives
The initiative by Swiss People’s Party, which required authorities to disclose the offenders’ migration background, was turned down, but the watered-down counter-proposal of the cantonal council was approved by 55.2 percent of voters.
Zurich police would now have to indicate the nationalities of suspects in their media releases, but not their 'migration background' or ethnicity.
READ MORE: Should a suspect’s ethnicity be made public by police?
More than 67 percent also cast their votes in favour of allowing Zurich to employ ‘social detectives’ to track down insurance claimants they suspect of cheating the system.
Zug: Tax rate is lowered
The canton’s proposal to lower the tax rate over the next three years was approved by 66.4 percent of the electorate.
The tax cut will be implemented to deal with the financial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: Reader question: Can I deduct working-from-home costs from my Swiss taxes?
On the other hand, just over 65 percent rejected a proposal to extend shop opening times in the canton by one hour — until 8pm on weekdays and 6pm on Saturday.
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Basel-Country: Revised law against illegal work
After years of controversy over labour market controls in the construction industry, the canton will now revise illegal employment laws.
The revision of the law on combating undeclared work was approved by 85.4 percent of the votes. And 84 percent voted in favour of the related revision of the Labour Market Supervision Act.
Bern: Sunday shop openings rejected, anti-smoking initiative approved
The proposal sought to extend Sunday sales in the canton to four Sundays a month, instead of the current two.
But 53.9 percent of voters rejected this proposal, in line with recommendations from trade unions and green parties.
At the same time, 72.9 percent of the electorate voted in favour of improved protection of minors from smoking. The same legal requirements now apply to e-cigarettes as to conventional products.
Geneva: Financial aid for people with low incomes
More than 68 percent of voters accepted a proposal to compensate residents who suffered financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The law provides for compensation of 80 percent of income, capped at 4,000 francs per month. This aid is to be paid out retrospectively for the period of the first shutdown, from March 17th to May 16th, 2020.
Luzern: University location to be expanded
Luzern will establish a public company that will expand and operate the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts campus in the municipality of Horw on the canton’s behalf.
Nearly 69 percent of the canton’s electorate approved the project.
Additionally, a loan of 26.1 million francs for the improvement works to the K36 cantonal road in the communities of Schüpfheim and Escholzmatt-Marbach was approved by 82.7 percent of votes.
The road is at risk of falling stones and authorities want to make it safer for drivers.
Zurich: Nationalities of criminals to be divulged and municipalities to employ social detectives
The initiative by Swiss People’s Party, which required authorities to disclose the offenders’ migration background, was turned down, but the watered-down counter-proposal of the cantonal council was approved by 55.2 percent of voters.
Zurich police would now have to indicate the nationalities of suspects in their media releases, but not their 'migration background' or ethnicity.
READ MORE: Should a suspect’s ethnicity be made public by police?
More than 67 percent also cast their votes in favour of allowing Zurich to employ ‘social detectives’ to track down insurance claimants they suspect of cheating the system.
Zug: Tax rate is lowered
The canton’s proposal to lower the tax rate over the next three years was approved by 66.4 percent of the electorate.
The tax cut will be implemented to deal with the financial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: Reader question: Can I deduct working-from-home costs from my Swiss taxes?
On the other hand, just over 65 percent rejected a proposal to extend shop opening times in the canton by one hour — until 8pm on weekdays and 6pm on Saturday.
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