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Switzerland Voters Reject Guaranteed Basic Income Plan

A 8,000 square meter poster is pictured on the Plainpalais square in Geneva, Switzerland May 14, 2016. The committee for the initiative for an "Unconditional Basic Income" has crowdfunded the "world's biggest poster", posing the question "What would you do if your income were taken care of ?". Swiss citizens will vote on June 5, 2016 on the proposal for an "Unconditional Basic Income". REUTERS/Denis Balibouse TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSEA8F
A 8,000 square meter poster is pictured on the Plainpalais square in Geneva, Switzerland May 14, 2016. The committee for the initiative for an "Unconditional Basic Income" has crowdfunded the "world's biggest poster", posing the question "What would you do if your income were taken care of?"Denis Balibouse—Reuters
By Melissa Chan

Voters in Switzerland on Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to introduce a guaranteed basic income for everyone living in the country.

Nearly 77% of voters opposed the plan that would have promised a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs—or $2,563—per adult and 625 francs per child under 18 no matter how much they work, Reuters reports. Only 23% of voters supported it, final referendum results show.

Switzerland is the first country to open up the idea to a vote, according to Reuters, which noted that opponents of the controversial proposal argued it was unfair, too costly and would discourage people from working.

[Reuters]

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