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Income not enough for many households

Tuesday, 29 September 2026 06:35

Nearly 360,000 Swiss workers already earn too little to support their households, and the imminent health premium announcement threatens to push more families under

Caritas says the number of working poor has never been higher since records began in 2014, with more than 820,000 people affected once family members are counted.

Almost half of those workers, some 180,000, live in households with children, often just above the poverty line but not eligible for social assistance.

Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider unveils the 2027 premium rise later today with an increase of around 5% widely expected.

Caritas is calling for a legal minimum wage, expanded family benefits and grants to help low earners retrain.

 

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