SBC launches election platform “For a constructive Switzerland
The Swiss Association of Master Builders (SBC) is launching the campaign and election platform "For a constructive Switzerland". Together with candidates, the industry association is highlighting the opportunities and possibilities that lie in construction and modernisation in order to master Switzerland's challenges in the areas of regulatory density, climate targets, security of supply and the need for skilled workers. This requires committed national councillors and members of the Council of States as well as practitioners from the construction sector, which is why the SBC recommends its candidates to voters for election on 22 October.
The density of regulation in the construction sector, the 2050 climate targets, security of supply and the shortage of skilled workers are key concerns of the population, the economy and politics and will accordingly also be the focus of the federal elections on 22 October 2023. The SBC has therefore chosen these key issues for its national election platform “For a constructive Switzerland”. This with the catchy slogan “We modernise, we build, we take responsibility”. Gian-Luca Lardi, Central President of the Swiss Association of Master Builders, states: “The main construction trade can and wants to contribute to constructive solutions for the future”. Until election day on 22 October, the positions on these topics, which are also at the heart of the SBC’s “Agenda 125.0”, will be presented on www.konstruktive-schweiz.ch. On the other hand, candidates will be presented on the platform whom the SBC recommends to the voters for election. Newsletters, posts in the social media, reporting in the association’s publications and construction site leaflets round off the communication support for the candidates. The SBC works closely with its cantonal sections on this.
We modernise. We build. We take responsibility.
Since Switzerland’s building stock is responsible for almost half of the country’s energy consumption, this is another area where we must take action, says Martin Bäumle, a member of the Zurich National Council: “Security of supply is of central importance. That’s why it’s crucial that we renovate buildings to make them more energy-efficient and enable efficient new buildings.” In concrete terms, higher incentives and the removal of barriers to modernisation could help Switzerland to increase its building renovation rate to the necessary level.
In addition to modern buildings, Switzerland also needs a top infrastructure, says Bernese National Councillor Christian Wasserfallen: “After all, infrastructures are Switzerland’s lifeline.” Alex Farinelli, National Councillor for Ticino and candidate for the Council of States, adds: “The ecological and energy challenges require an efficient infrastructure and a modern building stock. That’s why it’s important to give the building sector the opportunity to make its contribution with faster procedures and fewer bureaucratic hurdles.” The necessary framework conditions and legal certainty are created by politics, while the construction work is done by the master builders.
Last but not least, the shortage of skilled workers is also a topic in the campaign of the Swiss Association of Master Builders. The challenges of finding the necessary personnel are also great in the main construction trade. “I am committed to a constructive Switzerland that continues to train enough practitioners to implement Switzerland’s modernisation in buildings and infrastructure,” emphasises Isabelle Chassot, Fribourg’s Councillor of States. “We must take decisive action against the shortage of skilled workers,” adds Diana Gutjahr, National Councillor for the Canton of Thurgau. This starts with ensuring that vocational apprenticeships remain as attractive as possible, Gutjahr continues.