Cross-border workers in Ticino: 55,6% feel they are paid less

Context

TL;DR

• 1'542 workers responded to the survey
• 73% satisfied with their salary
• 55,6% feel they are paid less than a resident
• 37,4% can work remotely

Key facts

• Sample → 1'542 workers
• Organizers → BiblioLavoro, Cisl Lombardia and OCST
• Presentation → Varese
• Salary satisfaction → 73%
• Pay compared with a resident → 55,6%
• Reduced purchasing power → 48,4%
• Teleworking possible → 37,4%
• Impact of commuting → for many, between 5% and 20% of their paycheck

A total of 1'542 cross-border workers took part in the survey presented today in Varese. The survey was conducted jointly by BiblioLavoro, the research center of Cisl Lombardia, and OCST, the Ticino trade union. They are people who travel to work in Ticino every day.

The survey reveals a paradox: although they earn more than in Italy, more than half believe they are treated worse than their Swiss colleagues. 73% say they are satisfied with their salary; however, 55,6% think they earn less than a resident doing the same work. Moreover, almost half of respondents (48,4%) perceive a reduction in their purchasing power.

The twofold signal on pay

The percentages do not refer to the same question. The 73% concerns satisfaction with salary, while the 55,6% concerns the comparison with a resident employed in the same role. The 48,4% adds the perception regarding purchasing power. Taken together, the three figures show that a positive assessment of the amount received can coexist with the belief that one is paid less than another worker and with the feeling of having less purchasing power.

The source does not indicate the participants' average salary and does not reconstruct the circumstances of individual cases. The survey therefore provides percentages referring to the sample of 1'542 responses. The report concerns the work of cross-border workers in the Canton of Ticino, but the text does not turn the aggregate data into a measure of every cross-border worker's pay. The salary comparison remains the one reported by the participants: the source reports a belief, not an individual calculation of the paycheck.

Operational details

Regarding commuting, the daily travel time exceeds an hour and a half for one third of cross-border workers, while nearly three quarters of them travel by car. For many, mobility costs account for between 5% and 20% of their pay packet. Working remotely could help, but only 37,4% have the possibility of doing so.

Mobility and differences between women and men

The table compares different indicators without adding them together. The 20% is the upper limit of the interval indicated for mobility, not an average applicable to all workers. Similarly, 37,4% measures the possibility of working remotely in the sample, while the source does not say how many days of remote work are possible.

The comparison between men and women is based on the share below a threshold: 25% of female workers receive less than 3'000 gross francs per month, while among men the percentage is 8,2%. Thus, two average salaries are not being compared, but rather the share of workers who remain below that monthly limit. The source documents the disparity, but does not explain its causes or indicate the numerical size of the groups of women and men. In the context of cross-border employment, the text places commuting, access to remote work and wage distribution alongside one another, without establishing a causal relationship between these elements.

Key points

The move to Ticino does not emerge as a majority option. The idea appeals to only one in four; the source links the choice to the cost of living and health insurance premiums, as well as the distance from family. The text does not quantify these costs or assign them a separate figure.

The union's request

Among the proposals, the union again calls for a status for cross-border workers that would provide greater certainty regarding taxation and social security. This is a request reported by the source, not a description of a measure that has already been approved. Marco Contessa, Cisl's national head of cross-border workers, said:

“Cross-border workers are not privileged, but bridges between two countries”

The scope of the text is limited to pay, commuting, teleworking, differences between men and women, relocation and the union's request. It does not provide data on the G permit, AVS, LPP or LAMal. Nor does it quantify tax rebates, withholding tax or double taxation. These topics therefore cannot be used to attribute to the survey conclusions that the text does not contain.

This is the extent of the available data: a snapshot of the responses collected in Varese, without historical series, comparisons with other surveys or subsequent results documented in the text. To calculate your own payslip, consult payslip simulator.

Source: ticinonews.ch