Swiss Builders Association: Bureaucracy Bottleneck Looms: SBA Says No to the Sustainability Initiative
21.04.2026 | from Schweizerischer Baumeisterverband (SBV)
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21.04.2026, The Swiss Builders Association (SBA) rejects the so-called SVP Sustainability Initiative, as immigration quotas inevitably mean more bureaucracy, exacerbate the skills shortage, and significantly impair the central economic relations with the EU. Instead of a massive expansion of bureaucracy, problems such as housing shortages or overloaded infrastructure must be addressed with targeted investments and more efficient planning and approval procedures.
The Swiss Builders Association (SBA) decisively rejects the so-called Sustainability Initiative with its rigid population cap. It is particularly critical of the planned system change towards quotas and maximum numbers for all forms of immigration, which would also affect qualified foreign workers. Immigration quotas inevitably mean more bureaucracy. Companies would have to navigate cumbersome approval procedures and wait longer for qualified employees. There are fears of distribution conflicts between industries and regions, likely to the detriment of the construction sectors.
Despite local support, the construction sector remains dependent on EU specialists.
Swiss construction companies place great importance on training apprentices from their region and specifically further training long-term construction workers. Nevertheless, due to the skills shortage, immigration plays a central role in recruiting workforce for the construction industry, as it improves the availability of workers. The proportion of foreign workers on Swiss construction sites has remained constant at around two-thirds for many years, despite great efforts in local promotion. The vast majority come from the EU, especially from Portugal, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain.
Don’t endanger essential relations with the EU.
Furthermore, the initiative poses significant risks to the stable and essential relations with the EU for the Swiss economy. As the most important trading partner, the EU is closely intertwined with the Swiss labour market and value chains. Interventions in free movement of persons could put existing bilateral agreements under pressure and significantly worsen planning security for companies. The construction sector, in particular, relies on reliable framework conditions, functioning supply chains, and open markets.
Investments in housing and infrastructure are crucial.
The SBA rejects the initiative because it manages symptoms but does not solve the causes. Housing shortages, congestion, and overloaded infrastructure are not tackled with new recruitment hurdles, but with faster procedures, investments, and sufficient skilled workers.
Press contact:
Matthias Engel, Media Spokesperson SBA
Tel. 058 360 76 35, matthias.engel@baumeister.ch
Jacqueline Theiler, Head of Communications SBA
Tel. 058 360 76 42, jacqueline.theiler@baumeister.ch
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Schweizerischer Baumeisterverband (SBV)
The Swiss Builders Association SBA has existed since 1897. It is the nationwide professional, economic, and employer organization for companies in structural and civil engineering and related sectors of the main construction industry.
The SBA, together with its sections, professional associations, and groups, represents the supra-company interests of its members in the government, economy, and public and is particularly involved in the areas of employer policy, economic policy, and vocational education policy.
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Source: Schweizerischer Baumeisterverband (SBV), Press release
Original article published on: Schweizerischer Baumeisterverband: Bürokratie-Engpass droht: SBV sagt Nein zur Nachhaltigkeitsinitiative