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The union federation is fighting a second shutdown. That is too bad for the economy and jobs.
The number of corona cases in Switzerland is increasing and measures are being tightened to further spread the virus. There is a nationwide mini-lockdown in the room. Daniel Lampart, chief economist of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions, is alarmed. He cannot imagine a new shutdown of the economy, as he said in the “Saturday broadcast” of Radio SRF.
“People have to be able to survive”
Such a radical move would be too detrimental to the economy and jobs, says Lampart. Sometimes it would hit the hospitality and culture sectors again, people who have been suffering for a long time. The decision to take more action is a demanding balancing act and you have to find the optimal one. “That the healthcare system works and that people are as healthy as possible, but also that people survive and can live reasonably tolerable in everyday working life.”
I am convinced that the protection concepts have a great effect, but you have to make sure that they are followed everywhere.
Rather than more restrictions, SGB’s chief economist relies on the concepts of protection. “I am convinced that protection concepts have a great effect, but you have to make sure they are followed everywhere,” says Lampart. A lot has happened in companies since January in terms of protection concepts. Companies that do well tend to have fewer cases of illness. Also, the entire summer passed completely without many infections. Lampart is convinced that the concepts will work.
Bad examples for companies and cantons
Of course, there are also black sheep in business. The cantons have also partially relaxed controls. “That has to change suddenly,” emphasizes Lampart. “Every company must have a protection concept and the cantons must verify if it is really being complied with.”
Protection concepts should now be improved if necessary. The SGB noted, for example, that employees are now in break rooms again, or that construction workers retreat to cramped barracks on rainy days. That is unfavorable. You need to make sure you have larger break rooms or take breaks in shifts. You can still improve here. “
A lockdown is really the last resort if things get really bad in the healthcare sector and you have to say that now you have to subordinate everything. But we are not that far.
A block is not the right path for Lampart, it is like a yo-yo effect: go down, go up again and go down again. “A confinement is really the last resort if things got a lot worse in the health system and you have to say that now you have to subordinate everything. But we are not that far, “says Lampart.
Work again for a short time in case of blockage
Lampart raises another problem to consider. In the event that stricter measures are followed and companies receive less work and orders again, part-time work must be reintroduced, so that people can keep jobs.
“And you have to make sure that employees receive full pay compensation.” It mainly affects people with lower incomes. Often having only 80 percent of one’s income is no longer enough. “For those with low wages, a 100 percent replacement should be done,” explains Lampart.
