Workers in Zurich will receive a minimum hourly wage of CHF 23.90 from January 1, 2027, following years of legal challenges that delayed the implementation of the measure.
The city government announced on Thursday that the regulation would come into force on that date, following a final ruling by Switzerland’s Federal Court in favour of the minimum wage.
City Council Moves to Implement Voters’ Decision
Around 70 percent of Zurich voters supported the introduction of a municipal minimum wage in 2023. However, the implementation was delayed after the city’s Chamber of Commerce and employers’ union challenged the decision.
In 2024, the Zurich Administrative Court ruled in favour of the appeals, finding that the municipal decisions did not comply with cantonal legislation.
The dispute continued until May 2026, when the Federal Court ruled that Zurich and neighbouring Winterthur had sufficiently broad autonomy to introduce such measures.
Further appeals were lodged by centre-right and right-wing groups, but the Federal Court ultimately upheld the hourly rate of CHF 23.90.
Social Department Head Welcomes Court Decision
Céline Widmer, head of Zurich’s Social Department, said the legal challenges had postponed the implementation of a measure approved by voters for several years.
“The appeal has already delayed the implementation of the popular vote by several years – a very long time for employees with very low wages,” Widmer said.
She added that the city had prioritised putting the minimum wage into effect as soon as possible following the Federal Court’s ruling.
Widmer described the move as an important step in Zurich’s efforts to address in-work poverty.
Employers Given Time to Meet New Requirements
Although the minimum wage will officially take effect on January 1, 2027, employers will have until December 31 of that year to comply with the new requirements.
Businesses experiencing financial difficulties may apply to the city council for an extended transition period of up to two years.
The additional time is intended to allow eligible businesses to adjust their operations before fully implementing the minimum wage rules.
