The Industry and Construction Union called on Monday for a lower retirement age and better work conditions for building workers. This follows a study which shows that four workers out of 10 die or become invalids before the age of 65.

At a news conference in Berne, the union presented research from the Geneva cantonal office of inspection and work relations showing that only one in 10 architects and engineers became invalids before retirement age.

The union said the results of the study and of its own research were "shocking" and called for a "global social solution". In particular, the union called for retirement at 62, better working conditions and increased measures of accident prevention on building sites.

It also called for measures to combat stress and "excessive" working hours, saying that the federal government should revise the labour law to better regulate the maximum number of work hours, the question of flexible work schedules and the hiring of temporary employees.

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