Swiss builders reach accord on retirement age

The deal, scheduled to come into effect within four years, will allow construction workers to retire at 60 Keystone

Swiss construction workers have hammered out a deal with employers which would allow them to retire at 60.

On Monday, union representatives reached a last-minute agreement with the Swiss Building Association (SBV) to reduce the current retirement age by five years from 65 to 60.

The deal, which still needs to be officially signed by both parties, would come into effect within four years.

The accord comes just two days after more than 10,000 construction workers demonstrated in the Swiss capital, Bern, to demand retirement at the age of 60.

The workers had also threatened to start a nationwide strike on April 3 if negotiations with employers broke down without a deal.

Breaking negotiation deadlock

Rolf Beyeler, spokesman for the Swiss Building and Industry Union (GBI), said the agreement represented a “political and social breakthrough”.

But he also warned that union members had not yet ruled out the possibility of future strike action.

Talks between trade union officials and SBV representatives have so far failed to resolve the issue of salaries.

The union and construction workers are demanding a pay rise of SFr100 per month, while employers have said they are only willing to discuss a rise of SFr80.

A further round of negotiations is scheduled to take place next Monday.

swissinfo with agencies