The national collective agreement for the main construction industry regulates the working conditions of around 80,000 construction workers. The collective employment agreement expires at the end of the year and therefore required renegotiation.
The negotiation delegations agreed on an outcome during the 10th round of negotiations. The new contract is characterized by intense negotiations in which both parties made concessions. The contracting parties are convinced that they have found a solution that will increase the attractiveness of the construction industry for both current employees and future apprentices.
New National Collective Agreement for the Main Construction Industry from 2026
As part of the negotiations, a new national collective agreement was concluded. The contract has a term of six years, from the beginning of 2026 to the end of 2031.
The key points are as follows:
1. The term of the new collective agreement is six years.
2. Introduction of a new working time planning from January 1, 2027. In the future, companies will also be able to choose a working time model with constant daily working time, allowing for more over and under hours.
3. A simplified overtime regulation and the possibility of creating a long-term leave account for employees who wish to accumulate overtime.
4. The regulations on travel time are designed in such a way that they can be declared generally binding in the future. From a certain magnitude, travel time counts as overtime.
5. Wage package and inflation protection.
6. Substantial increases in underground construction surcharges and allowances.
Result Will Be Presented to Decision-Making Bodies on Both Sides
With the outcome achieved by the negotiation delegations, the two parties have taken an important step towards a new national collective agreement after intensive negotiations. The result now needs to be approved by the decision-making bodies on both sides. On the part of the builders, an extraordinary delegate assembly of the SBV will decide on the definitive result on December 17, 2025. On the union side, professional conferences will take place on January 24 and 20, 2026, respectively.