Politic

UBI pilot in Geneva: BIEN.CH invited to a hearing by the parliamentary Economics Commission

Grand Council - Economic Commission - Members present
Grand Council - Economic Commission - Members present

Mr. Ralph Kundig and Mr. Gabriel Barta, respectively President and Vice-president of BIEN Switzerland, were interviewed on 22 November 2021 by the Economics Commission of the Grand Conseil of Geneva. This committee is currently examining the proposed motion, “A pilot experiment of unconditional basic income (UBI) in Geneva”. The hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, was divided into two phases: a visual presentation (FR) of the project explained (FR) by Mr. Kundig, followed by a discussion. [+]

Motion to the Geneva cantonal parliament: “A pilot experiment of UBI in Geneva”

Ginevra Gran Consiglio

As we announced last June, the proposed motion, “A pilot experiment of unconditional basic income (UBI) in Geneva”, was tabled on 11 September 2019 in the Geneva cantonal parliament (Grand Conseil) by a group of deputies from the Greens and the Socialist Party (SP).

The text of this motion calls on the government (Conseil d'État): [+]

Poster of BIEN-Switzerland for the 18th Congress of BIEN-International

Produced by BIEN-Switzerland, this poster was among those of other affiliated organizations at the 18th Annual BIEN (International) Congress in Tampere, Finland.

BIEN-Switzerland poster for the 18e congress

Summary

On the 5th of June 2016, a fourth of the Swiss population voted in favor of a citizen federal initiative proposing to introduce the principle of the Universal Basic Income into the Swiss Constitution. After this significant milestone and based on the resulting fresh understanding of the UBI principles by the population and the political actors, actions have been taken to launch some pilot experiments in the country.

BIEN-Switzerland has actively supported the UBI initiative as well as other initiatives of the same type which may ease the introduction of the UBI at any level. Besides this activity, our organization proposes introductory lectures on the UBI and issues surrounding it, the setting up of experimental pilot projects, workshops on the themes of possible methods of practical implementation, benefits/limits/drawbacks of experiments and the formulation of a likely new federal initiative. [+]

Press release: Greens call for UBI pilot experience in Geneva

Press release

EQUALITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH

THE UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

The Green Party calls for the establishment of a pilot experiment for the introduction of a UBI in the canton of Geneva

While more than a third of Geneva's men and women voted for the unconditional basic income three years ago, today, on the eve of the women's strike on June 14, the Green and BIEN-Switzerland are proposing a pilot experiment for Geneva: the unconditional basic income (UBI) as a central tool for equality.

The UBI is not only an excellent means of ensuring a better redistribution of wealth among the population, as well for women than men, but also makes it possible to rethink our relationship at work completely and to value unpaid activities, which are essential to social cohesion. The UBI thus makes it possible to better reconcile professional life, training, family life, associative and political life and free time for all. [+]

A basic income pilot in Lausanne!

Panorama de Lausanne

The inevitable "All work deserves a salary but all salary deserves work" has been pronounced. However the idea of a Lausanne laboratory to test a basic income has made it's way. The idea: "to study the effects of giving a basic income to group of people already receiving State assistance" explained Léonore Porchet. This in order to see "which are conditions that encourage or discourage the efforts of those receiving social assistance in the search for a job", she explained.

The Communal Council of Lausanne accepted this postulate of our friend, activist and member of the Council, Laurent Rebeaud Greens Vaud. The Municipality will have to consider implementing a basic income pilot project, that will allow to test this idea. Léonore Porchet brilliantly defended this postulate in front of the Communal Council and made her voice heard. The experiment is excpected to be conducted on a sample of people which already receive State assistance. Similar experiments are expected in other countries like the Netherlands and Finland.