Wage discussions for next year look set to be difficult (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Travail.Suisse calls for an overall increase of 2% for all workers, with sectoral variations of up to 6% in healthcare.
• The Swiss Union of Entrepreneurs (USI) proposes an average increase of 1%, defining trade union demands as "disconnected from reality".

Key facts

• Increases required: average of 2% (Travail.Suisse), with peaks of 5-6% in the healthcare sector (Syna). The USI suggests an average +1%.
• Cantonal minimum: the minimum hourly wage in Ticino is CHF 20.60 (Labour Law 2023). An increase of 2% would imply CHF 0.41/hour more.
• Critical sectors: in the advanced tertiary sector of Lugano, average wages in 2023 are CHF 7,200/month. In the Bellinzona manufacturing plant, CHF 5,800.

The 2025 salary negotiations in Ticino come alive between distant positions. Travail.Suisse formalized the request for an overall increase of 2%, motivated by cumulative inflation 2023-2024 (1.8%) and increased productivity (+2.1% in 2023). The USI replies by proposing a 1% ceiling, citing the stagnation of corporate profits in Q1 2024 (-0.3% vs 2023).

"Wages must reflect economic reality, not trade union pressures" (Marco Rossi, USI Ticino).

Sector variations Healthcare: Syna asks for +5-6% for nurses/OSS, where basic salaries start from CHF 4,800 (Livorno). A +6% would be equivalent to CHF 288/month more.

• Industry: in Locarno, after the drop in orders in 2024 (-4%), the associations propose

Operational details

In retail, OCST asks for +3.5%, while Unia aims for +4% in construction, a sector with material costs increased by 7.1% in 2023 (SBI index). In Locarno, mechanical SMEs withstand demands above 1.5%, citing reduced margins. Ticino's Public Procurement Law (LCApp, 2021) imposes minimum wages of CHF 23/hour for skilled jobs, but many categories remain under pressure.

📊 Practical comparison :

• Nurse in Lugano: average salary 2022 = CHF 6.200/mese. With +6% → CHF 6,572 (+CHF 372/year)
• Construction worker in Mendrisio: CHF 4.800/mese. With +4% → CHF 4,992 (+CHF 2.304/anno)

💡 Operational checklist for companies: 1. Analyze the Ticino consumer price index (+2.8% in October 2023) 2. Check sectoral CCNL obligations (e.g. chemical-pharmaceutical: min. +1.8% from January 2024) 3. Calculate the impact of social contributions (AVS/AI: +0.3% since 1.1.2024)

⚠️ Without agreements, strikes are possible in the autumn. 68% of Ticino companies (CC-Ti survey) foresee conflicts, especially in the advanced tertiary sector.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

In Bellinzona, where the median wage is CHF 5,800 gross (source: Ustat 2023), a +2% would mean CHF 116 more, but net of cantonal tax deductions (average rate 18%) would remain CHF 95. In Lugano, with higher average wages (CHF 6,500), the net increase would fall to CHF 108.

The Ticino Law on the Protection of Workers (LPAL, art. 14, updated 01.01.2024) does not set automatic increases, but the cantonal minimum wage (currently CHF 21.50/hour) could be adjusted if the consumer price index exceeds 3%.

"The priority is to preserve purchasing power without compromising competitiveness" (Giovanni Rossi, USI economist).

Operational checklist for workers:

• Check the sectoral CCNL (e.g. trade: last renewal 2022, +1.5%)
• Calculate the net impact with the cantonal tax simulator
• Compare sectoral data on www.salarycalculator.ch
• Document increases in fixed costs (rentals in Locarno: +4.2% per year)

Practical scenarios: If approved: gross salary +2%, but real purchasing power -0.8% (inflation). If rejected: possible erosion of 1.5% of purchasing power in 2025. The final decision is up to the Tripartite Commission by October 2024.

Source: rsi.ch