Why Won’t The Swiss Accept A Monthly Income Of RM10,000 From The Government?
The scheme can cost the Swiss government approximately 208 billion Swiss francs a year!
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 07 Jun 2016, 07:11 PM
What would you do if the Malaysian government were to offer a monthly income that doesn't require you to work for it?
That could be the future of Switzerland as they mull over the idea of providing unconditional 2,500 Swiss francs (RM10,483) basic income for each of its citizens.
Switzerland is set to vote on a proposal that wants to pay everyone 2,500 Swiss francs (£1,700) a month regardless of whether people are working or not. The initiative also wants to give each child 625 francs a month (£430).
If the plans go through, it will become the first country in the world to provide a basic unconditional monthly income, and they are already the first country to vote on the matter.
This newfangled idea comes from a grassroots committee which strives for pay equality, assurance that people have a monthly income despite their employment status and better quality of life
Organizers submitted more than the 100,000 signatures needed to call a referendum on Friday and tipped a truckload of 8 million five-rappen coins outside the parliament building in Berne, one for each person living in Switzerland.
Under Swiss law, citizens can organize popular initiatives that allow the channeling of public anger into direct political action. The country usually holds several referendum a year.
reuters.com
While most people would easily think that the proposal would win with a popular vote, the Swiss think otherwise.
Nearly 77% of Swiss voters rejected the notion, leaving only 23% supporting the guaranteed basic income for all.
Provisional final results showed 76.9 percent of voters opposed the bold social experiment launched by Basel cafe owner Daniel Haeni and allies in a vote under the Swiss system of direct democracy.
Supporters had said introducing a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs ($2,563) per adult and 625 francs per child under 18 no matter how much they work would promote human dignity and public service.
Opponents, including the government, said it would cost too much and weaken the economy.
"If you would offer every individual a Swiss amount of money, you would have billions of people who would try to move into Switzerland," opined Luzi Stamm of the right-wing Swiss People's Party.
The member of parliament for the right wing party also explained that offering basic income for its people would be a "total impossibility" as the country has open borders policy and has a living standard, reported BBC on 5 June.
Interestingly enough, a survey conducted prior to the voting reveals that most Swiss citizens would still continue working if the guaranteed income plan was approved
According to the Independent UK, only 2% of Swiss residents would stop working if the government offers monthly income, while the remaining 8% said that they "could envisage this possibility depending on circumstances", as reported by the Local.
Had it been approved in Switzerland, each adult would receive a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs while children would get 625 francs each.
In Malaysia, that would translate into approximately RM10,483 for adults and RM2,621 for kids, every single month!
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, citizens with a household income of under RM4,000 receive a yearly allowance of RM800 under the BRM1 scheme introduced by the government
