[gilgoomesh]

According to Wolfram Alpha, Switzerland's cost of living is 1.535 times that of the U.S.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=cost+of+living+switzerl...

This proposed Swiss minimum wage is therefore (roughly) equivalent to a minimum wage in the U.S. of $16.28 per hour (taxation differences and non living-expenses notwithstanding).