by URS GEISER
Campaigners for less salary disparity within companies hand in their signatures. The final say on the initiative is up to the voters PHOTO/Keystone
Next Friday campaigners are to hand in the necessary signatures for the introduction of an inheritance tax across the country. It is the latest drive mainly by the political left and civil society to narrow the gap between rich and poor.
At least five like-minded initiatives will continue to make the news headlines over the next few months. A political trend or simply a fluke on the political agenda?
The move by a coalition of trade unions and centre-left parties to tax assets and property worth more than SFr2 million ($2.2 million) that is passed on to heirs will be followed just two weeks later by a ballot box decision on a proposal to rein in top earners in the corporate world.
On March 3 voters will have the final say on the highly controversial initiative by a self-declared anti-establishment champion, businessman Thomas Minder.
Also pending is another proposal to limit manager wages by setting a maximum 1:12 ratio between the highest and lowest salaries in a company.
Separate initiatives are aimed at scrapping the preferential tax system for wealthy foreign residents and at introducing a minimum salary nationwide.
Dates for ballot box decisions on the issues will be set once the proposals have been discussed by the cabinet and parliament.
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