Europe 1 with AFP 8:41 p.m., August 30, 2022
Winter is likely to be harsh.
Faced with the risk of shortages, a Swiss employers' federation recommends working during off-peak hours, i.e. at night and on weekends, in order to be able to keep the factories running.
Producing at night would amount to "breaking peaks in electricity and gas consumption".
Faced with the risk of energy shortages during the winter, the employers' federation which represents manufacturers of machinery and electrical equipment in Switzerland recommends the use of night and weekend work to keep factories running.
The employers' organization Swissmem estimates that in "case of shortage", it will be necessary "to break the peaks in the level of electricity and gas consumption", to which the industry can contribute "by moving production to the night and at the weekend," she said in a statement on Tuesday.
This employers' organization which represents companies specializing in machine tools, electrical equipment and metalworking calls on the Swiss authorities to adopt a "simple and unbureaucratic" approach to authorizing night and weekend work.
Among the measures advocated to reduce the risk of energy shortages, Swissmem also suggests encouraging the use of fuel oil rather than natural gas, but also reducing the temperature to 19 degrees in apartments, offices, production centers, museums and shopping malls when the heating is back on.
A risk of shortage that worries many in Switzerland
"The war in Ukraine risks causing a shortage of gas and electricity this winter", warns the employers' organization which considers it necessary that "companies, the administration and the population stick together" to preserve businesses and jobs.
The machinery, electrical equipment and metals industry is Switzerland's second largest export sector behind pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
In the second quarter, these sectors had 320,900 jobs, according to this employers' organization.
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The risk of energy shortages during the winter is causing serious concern in Switzerland.
In summer, Switzerland exports electricity when the hydroelectric power stations can run at full capacity in this country of lakes and mountains.
But the Alpine country has to import energy when the snow returns.
The order books of companies in the sectors represented by Swissmem are currently well filled.
They have had six uninterrupted quarters of growth, with order volumes "now 30%" above their pre-Covid-19 pandemic level, according to Swissmem.
"Despite everything, there is no reason to be euphoric", warns the employers' organization, supply problems and the "massive rise in energy prices" as well as raw materials having led to "an increase sometimes considerable" production costs.