Does the new Ticino minimum wage apply to all workers?

Theoretically yes, to 23,000 Ticino workers. However, the Ettlin motion adopted in June 2026 could exclude about 4,000 workers in the catering and hotel sector, whose collective bargaining agreement declared to be generally binding at the federal level would take precedence over the cantonal norm. The concrete effect will depend on the outcome of the referendum currently underway on the Ettlin motion.

What is the exact amount of the new Ticino minimum wage?

The new legislation will bring the Ticino minimum wage to a range between 21.75 and 22.25 francs per hour by 2029. This represents an increase of CHF 1.75 from the current level, corresponding to a monthly increase of at least CHF 316 for beneficiaries.

When does the new minimum wage take effect?

The new Ticino minimum wage will come into force shortly, without going through a popular vote, thanks to the absence of a referendum against the legislative changes approved by Parliament on April 20, 2026. The transition to the range of 21.75-22.25 CHF/hour is expected by 2029.

What does the Ettlin motion mean and who is affected?

The Ettlin motion, adopted by the federal chambers in June 2026, provides that collective agreements declared to be generally binding at the federal level take precedence over the minimum wages established by the Cantons. 67% of the 4,000 Ticino workers at risk work in the catering and hotel sector.

What can I do if I work in the restaurant industry in Ticino?

Check your collective bargaining agreement to see if it contains fixed and declared federally mandated wages. If yes, your salary may be subject to the federal priority of the Ettlin motion. Monitor the outcome of the current referendum and use the salary calculator to assess your potential increase.

Ticino minimum wage at risk: 4,000 workers excluded (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 8 September 2026

Swiss Federal Parliament chamber during a plenary session on wage policy

On September 7, 2026, it withdraws the popular initiative, but the Ettlin motion risks nullifying the benefits for 67% of catering workers. At risk 316 francs per month increase.

Context

In brief

Ticino minimum wage: 21.75-22.25 CHF/hour by 2029
Monthly increase: 316 francs for the 23,000 beneficiaries
At risk: 4,000 workers due to Ettlin motion (June 2026)
67% of 4,000 in hospitality sector

Key facts

What: Introduction of Ticino minimum wage + risk of exclusion from Ettlin motion
When: September 7, 2026 (initiative withdrawal), April 20, 2026 (Parliament approval), June 2026 (federal motion)
Where: Ticino, hospitality and hotel sector
Who: Socialist Party, Federal Parliament, Federal Chambers
Amount: 21.75-22.25 CHF/hour by 2029, increase of 316 CHF monthly
Beneficiaries at risk: 4,000 out of 23,000 workers

Fabrizio Sirica, co-president of the Socialist Party, officially withdrew the popular initiative for 'Social Minimum Wage' on Monday, September 7, 2026. The withdrawal followed the political agreement between parties and the absence of appeals against the legislative amendments approved by Parliament on April 20, 2026. With no referendum currently underway against this regulation, the new Ticino minimum wage will soon come into force without going to a popular vote.

The new minimum wage in Ticino

The new legislation will bring the Ticino minimum wage to a range between 21.75 and 22.25 francs per hour by 2029, an increase of 1.75 francs from the current level. This change will have a direct impact on approximately 23,000 low-income workers in the canton. Each beneficiary would see their monthly salary increase by at least 316 francs, a tangible figure that improves the ability to cope with the cost of living in Ticino. The Socialist Party expressed great satisfaction with the result achieved in the political compromise.

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Operational details

Who risks losing the raise

The category mainly affected by the Ettlin motion is that of restaurants and hotels. 67% of the 4,000 workers at risk reside in Ticino and operate in these sectors. For these professionals, the practical effect would be the non-use of the benefits of the new cantonal rule, if their collective bargaining agreement already applied federally fixed wages with precedence over the cantonal provisions.

The situation creates involuntary discrimination between workers in the same canton. A cook or waitress in the Ticino catering sector may not receive the increase of CHF 1.75/hour, while a colleague in another sector does, depending exclusively on the applicability of the federal collective agreement in his branch of activity.

The conflict between federalism and cantonal politics

The Socialist Party has highlighted that this situation represents a potential violation of cantonal competences in the field of social policy. According to the SP, a federal decision limiting or nullifying the effect of a cantonal rule constitutes an attack on the principle of Swiss federalism. The cantons have historically had the power to define their own wage and social policies, and a federal imposition that restricts their application raises relevant questions of the proper distribution of powers between levels of government.

Concrete economic consequences

For the catering sector

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Key points

How to Verify Your Collective Agreement

For interested Ticino workers, the first step is to verify your collective labor agreement. If you work in the restaurant or hospitality sector, carefully check whether your contract contains minimum salary clauses set at the federal level and declared to be of general applicability. If so, your salary may be subject to the federal priority provided by the Ettlin motion, regardless of the new Ticino cantonal regulation. Familiarize yourself with how to correctly read your payslip, so you can immediately recognize the effect of the increase once implemented.

The second step is to monitor the outcome of the ongoing referendums. If the Socialist Party manages to collect the necessary signatures and bring the Ettlin motion to popular vote, the result could determine the fate of the federal regulation. A rejection by Swiss voters would prevent the motion from coming into force, ensuring the 23'000 Ticino beneficiaries full access to the new minimum salary of 21.75-22.25 CHF/hour without sectoral limitations.

Possible Scenarios by 2029

If the Ettlin motion were to come into force without modifications, the Ticino minimum salary would only apply to workers whose collective agreement does NOT provide salaries set and declared as mandatory at the federal level. This would create a two-tier situation: some workers in the restaurant sector would receive the increase of up to 316 francs per month, others would not, depending on the applicability of their specific contract. For those excluded, the status quo would continue until the federal contract were renegotiated.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the new Ticino minimum wage apply to all workers?: Theoretically yes, to 23,000 Ticino workers. However, the Ettlin motion adopted in June 2026 could exclude about 4,000 workers in the catering and hotel sector, whose collective bargaining agreement declared to be generally binding at the federal level would take precedence over the cantonal norm. The concrete effect will depend on the outcome of the referendum currently underway on the Ettlin motion.
What is the exact amount of the new Ticino minimum wage?: The new legislation will bring the Ticino minimum wage to a range between 21.75 and 22.25 francs per hour by 2029. This represents an increase of CHF 1.75 from the current level, corresponding to a monthly increase of at least CHF 316 for beneficiaries.
When does the new minimum wage take effect?: The new Ticino minimum wage will come into force shortly, without going through a popular vote, thanks to the absence of a referendum against the legislative changes approved by Parliament on April 20, 2026. The transition to the range of 21.75-22.25 CHF/hour is expected by 2029.
What does the Ettlin motion mean and who is affected?: The Ettlin motion, adopted by the federal chambers in June 2026, provides that collective agreements declared to be generally binding at the federal level take precedence over the minimum wages established by the Cantons. 67% of the 4,000 Ticino workers at risk work in the catering and hotel sector.
What can I do if I work in the restaurant industry in Ticino?: Check your collective bargaining agreement to see if it contains fixed and declared federally mandated wages. If yes, your salary may be subject to the federal priority of the Ettlin motion. Monitor the outcome of the current referendum and use the salary calculator to assess your potential increase.