Roadmap out of lockdown: sgv wants opening on March 1, 2021

The Swiss trade association sgv demands the immediate relaxation of the lockdown with the approval of terrace and outdoor businesses in the catering industry and "private shopping" and outdoor sales in the retail trade. As of March 1, 2021, the sgv demands the complete opening of the economy. Accompanying this, testing must be intensified and expanded to break the staking chains. The full vaccination program must be completed by the end of June 2021. As a basis for information, the federal government must develop a clearly communicated "national dashboard" with indicators such as figures on hospitalizations, intensive care bed occupancy, 7-day incidence, positivity rates and infection sites. That, in a nutshell, is the sgv's roadmap. The association is thus underpinning its already last week communicated direction of thrust.

Situation is becoming increasingly difficult for many industries

Some representatives of heavily affected industries continue to draw attention to the difficult situation of many SMEs. The specialist textile trade, for example, is recording losses of 8 to 35 percent - depending on the outlet. Milo Goldener, president of the textilschweiz association: "The lockdown last spring has already depleted the reserves." Milo Goldener rules out the possibility that opening clothing stores will lead to an increase in infections: "Our protection concepts have proven their worth. Even employees who contracted the virus in their private lives have not passed it on to customers or staff in the stores." The situation in the sports retail sector is similarly dramatic, as its association president Peter Bruggmann explained. His demand is therefore unequivocal: "The lockdown strategy is costing the sports industry one in five jobs. It must be ended, immediately!" The auto-schweiz association is also complaining about massive declines in car sales because of the lockdown. In 25 years, the market situation has never been this bad, as François Launaz, president of auto-schweiz, explained.

Lockdown endangers health

Roland Steiner, Vice President and Honorary President of the Swiss Fitness and Health Center Association SFGV, pointed out an aspect that should not be underestimated at the media conference. For it is not only the virus directly that endangers health, but also indirectly the closed fitness centers. Because a survey had shown that in the lockdown, physical complaints among customers would increase sharply. One in three had to see a doctor or therapist again because of a worsening health problem. A large proportion are now unnecessarily suffering again from back or knee pain or are experiencing a sharp increase in weight.

Protection concepts as part of the roadmap

Therefore, the sgv demands, leisure, fitness and sports facilities should be able to reopen fully on March 1, 2021. Retailers should also be able to offer their full range of products again. Restaurants and similar establishments should be allowed to receive guests again according to the detailed new concept of Gastro-Suisse. This opening is to be accompanied by consistent compliance with protection concepts, such as those already created after the first lockdown.

Another demand of the sgv is the abolition of the home office obligation. According to sgv Director Hans-Ulrich Bigler, this would have brought nothing but rather caused uncertainty.

Not all call for lockdown to be lifted

Nonetheless, not all industries want the lockdown to end so vehemently. The Swiss Bank Employees Association (SBPV), for example, has written an open letter to the Federal Council. In it, it warns against opening the lockdown too quickly, as the employers' associations are demanding. In the banking sector in particular, a relaxation of the measures is not an urgent need - here, the home office has already proven itself in practice and a relaxation would undoubtedly pose a health risk to employees, writes the SBA. Experience has shown that banks have found good solutions to be able to continue to provide their services despite home office, it continues. The bank employees' union is therefore calling for the continuation of
"of these proven measures to protect workers and prevent unnecessary contact." But not only that: The home office obligation is even to be strengthened by financial support for employees in matters of ergonomics and the reimbursement of expenses.

What roadmap does the Federal Council have?

Be that as it may, the Federal Council is under pressure. The question remains open as to which voices it will listen to most when it makes its next decision: Those who lobby for an opening or those who fear a 3rd wave. It seems that the current situation is like a choice between plague and cholera. In any case, it is to be hoped that the Swiss population - not only the business community - can be presented with a clear perspective, combined with measures that are logical, easy to understand and clearly communicated.