What are the main developments for site allowances?

The site allowance, currently set at CHF 4 per day, will be gradually increased under the new agreement. Starting from 1 January 2027, the amount will rise to CHF 6.5 per day, and then reach CHF 9 per day in 2028. This adjustment represents a central element of the new contractual structure, aimed at improving the economic conditions of workers active in the field in the Canton of Ticino and throughout Switzerland.

How does the management of travel time to the construction site change?

The contractual amendment establishes that the travel time necessary to reach the construction site must be recorded from the first minute. The exemption of the first 30 minutes previously in force, which weighed on the operation of workers, is therefore eliminated. This provision aims to ensure greater fairness and transparency in the remuneration of time spent commuting to the workplace, obliging companies to count in full.

What is the duration of the new agreement and what does it provide for wages?

The agreement, signed at the beginning of May 2026, has an unusually long duration of six years. As far as wages are concerned, there is an automatic adjustment to the standard of living for minimum wages. In addition, from 2029, a specific mechanism will be activated to guarantee the purchasing power of real wages. The OCST, the protagonist of the negotiations, stressed the importance of constant monitoring to ensure that the collective agreement is fully respected by companies.

Construction: new six-year agreement in Ticino

By Redazione Frontaliere Ticino (AI-generated text) · Published on 4 September 2026 · Updated on 8 October 2026

Construction site in Ticino with workers.

The construction agreement is signed: construction allowance of up to 9 francs by 2028 and travel time counted from the first minute.

Context

In brief

Construction agreement valid for the next 6 years.
New site allowances: from 4 CHF to 6.5 CHF (1st January 2027) up to 9 CHF.
Travel time to the site recorded from the first minute, with a 30-minute exemption removed.

Key facts

What: Renewal of national and cantonal construction contracts.
When: Agreement signed in early May 2026.
Where: Switzerland and Canton Ticino.
Who: OCST and construction employers.
Amount: Site allowance 6.5 CHF from 1st January 2027.

The path leading to the recent contract renewal in the construction sector saw phases of intense mobilization. It was on 17 May 2025 when, in Zurich and Lausanne, negotiations for the renewal of the national contract began, with over 10,000 workers involved in union demands. After months of tense meetings and days of strikes across the Swiss territory, starting in Bellinzona on 20 October of the same year, a draft agreement was approved in mid-December. Subsequently, local negotiations for the cantonal contract led, in early May 2026, to the signing of a balanced agreement valid for the next six years. As communicated in June 2026, this new contractual framework marks a fundamental step for industrial relations in the sector. The OCST union, a key player in the negotiations, highlighted the importance of this result, which aims to stabilize the construction sector, composed of approximately 80,000 workers nationwide. The main demands, focused on maintaining purchasing power and shorter working days, found a response in a compromise that the parties defined as solid. The unusually long duration of the contract, equal to six years, was conceived to favor the normalization of relations between the union and employers, at a time when the sector must face crucial challenges, such as generational turnover and the increasing difficulty in finding qualified labor. The underlying strategy aims to improve the attractiveness of the profession by investing more confidently in professional training, a point considered essential to ensure the future sustainability of the construction site in Switzerland and Canton Ticino.

Operational details

Practical implications and working conditions

The contractual changes introduced will have direct and measurable impacts on the daily lives of construction workers. One of the central points concerns the management of travel times: the time required to reach the construction sites will now be recorded from the first minute, eliminating the 30-minute exemption that previously burdened operations. At the same time, a new site allowance has been introduced. Currently set at 4 francs per day, this item will undergo a scheduled increase: from January 1, 2027, it will rise to 6.5 francs, and then reach 9 francs per day in 2028. These changes represent a tangible adjustment for those who work daily in the field. Another significant aspect concerns the protection of wages: minimum wages will be automatically adjusted for the cost of living, providing dynamic protection against inflation. Furthermore, starting in 2029, a simple and clear mechanism will be activated to guarantee the purchasing power of real wages, offering a long-term financial stability perspective. For the cross-border worker operating in Ticino, these contractual provisions fit into the broader framework of withholding tax on wages, in a context where the correct application of the collective labor agreement (CLA) has become, as reiterated by the OCST, an absolute priority. It is not just about defining new parameters but ensuring that what is agreed is fully respected by companies. The union has clarified its stance for the next six years: uncompromising and consistent monitoring of working conditions, as expressed by the base, because, as stated, it is of no use to write a good contract if it is not applied in practice. The focus therefore shifts from the negotiation plane to the field control, ensuring that every worker sees their agreed rights recognized without exceptions or discretionary interpretations by employers, in a labor market that requires ever greater transparency and respect for the rules in force in Canton Ticino.

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Key points

Procedures and protection of rights

In light of the contractual changes defined in May 2026, the main challenge for construction workers lies in the application of vigilance. The signing of a six-year contract requires careful management of site dynamics. For those working as cross-border workers, it is advisable to periodically verify that the new amounts related to site allowances and salary adjustments for the cost of living are correctly reported on the pay slip. In case of doubts about the correct application of the new contractual rules, the correct procedure involves direct discussion with the competent trade union bodies, such as the OCST, which actively participated in the definition of the agreement. It is essential to maintain precise documentation of working hours, especially in light of the new regulation on travel time, which must be counted from the first minute, without the application of the thirty-year exemption. This documentation is essential if a verification of compliance between what is agreed in the CBA and what is actually paid by the company is necessary. Respect for the collective agreement is a right that must be claimed consistently. The position taken by the union is clear: intransigence will be the guiding line for the next few years, in order to ensure that the generational turnover of the construction sector does not occur to the detriment of the quality and safety of work, but through an overall improvement of the image of the profession. Regarding the fiscal and contributory management of one's income, including aspects related to withholding tax or AVS/LPP social security, it is always advisable to consult simulation tools to fully understand the impact of salary changes on net income. It is possible to deepen one's salary situation using the tax calculator to obtain a clear projection of the net pay slip following the increases and new allowances. Staying informed and proactive in monitoring one's rights represents the best tool available to operate safely in the Ticino labor market, ensuring that every contractual improvement effectively translates into a concrete benefit for one's personal and family budget.

Source: ocst.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main developments for site allowances?: The site allowance, currently set at CHF 4 per day, will be gradually increased under the new agreement. Starting from 1 January 2027, the amount will rise to CHF 6.5 per day, and then reach CHF 9 per day in 2028. This adjustment represents a central element of the new contractual structure, aimed at improving the economic conditions of workers active in the field in the Canton of Ticino and throughout Switzerland.
How does the management of travel time to the construction site change?: The contractual amendment establishes that the travel time necessary to reach the construction site must be recorded from the first minute. The exemption of the first 30 minutes previously in force, which weighed on the operation of workers, is therefore eliminated. This provision aims to ensure greater fairness and transparency in the remuneration of time spent commuting to the workplace, obliging companies to count in full.
What is the duration of the new agreement and what does it provide for wages?: The agreement, signed at the beginning of May 2026, has an unusually long duration of six years. As far as wages are concerned, there is an automatic adjustment to the standard of living for minimum wages. In addition, from 2029, a specific mechanism will be activated to guarantee the purchasing power of real wages. The OCST, the protagonist of the negotiations, stressed the importance of constant monitoring to ensure that the collective agreement is fully respected by companies.