Construction stop due to heat should not cost a contractual penalty
Published: Tuesday, Aug 20th 2024, 18:00
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If work on construction sites comes to a standstill due to heat, companies should no longer risk contractual penalties for delays. This is what the National Council's Economic Affairs Committee is demanding in a motion.
The National Council's Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK-N) passed the committee motion by 15 votes to 7 with one abstention, as reported by the parliamentary services on Tuesday. It sees public building owners in particular as having a duty.
With the motion, the committee wants to help a joint concern of master builders and trade unions to be implemented as quickly as possible. The no votes came from the SVP.
According to the motion, companies should be able to ensure health and safety in the workplace by stopping work in extreme heat without risking penalties. A temperature in figures was not mentioned.
Public building owners in particular must provide rules that allow the deadlines to be adjusted if outdoor work is no longer reasonable and the protection of employees' health can no longer be guaranteed.
Heat increases the risk of accidents and health problems on construction sites, writes the WAK-N, pointing out that employers are responsible for health protection.
If measures such as adjusted working hours, limiting overtime and regular breaks were not enough to ensure the safety of employees, the only option would be to stop work. Tight schedules make it increasingly difficult to interrupt construction work in hot weather.
The National Council will decide on the motion next.
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