From April 1, 2026, new binding rules on working time recording apply in the painting and plastering trade. The GAV 2026–2029, negotiated between Unia and the SMGV (Swiss Painters and Plasterers Association), requires: travel time must be recorded separately on the work time report.
What Changes Specifically?
The journey from the company to the job site (and back) is now officially classified as working time and must be documented accordingly:
- Mandatory separate recording: Travel time must be listed separately on the work time report — merging it with regular hours is no longer acceptable.
- Counts as working time: The journey from the company to the job site and back is counted as paid working time.
- Accurate reports required: Businesses must maintain precise hour reports that explicitly show travel time.
- Differs by association membership: SMGV members use the "Working Time Tracking with Travel Time Deduction 2026" form; non-members use the version without deduction and must compensate all travel time in full.
Why This Change?
The goal is to eliminate unpaid working time. For years, travel to job sites was a grey area — employees performed this time without it being systematically recorded or compensated. The new GAV creates clear rules and protects workers from unrecorded commute time.
The GAV 2026–2029 also brings other changes: higher expense allowances and new rules for Saturday work (Saturday shifts must be registered with the parity commission, otherwise significant fines apply).
What Do Businesses Need to Do Now?
- Update time reports: Ensure work time reports include a dedicated field for travel time.
- Inform staff: Brief the team on the new obligation so travel time is correctly entered from April 1.
- Retain documentation: Keep all reports for at least 5 years (Labour Act Art. 46).
- Register Saturday work: Notify the parity commission of Saturday shifts in advance.
How Samay Helps
Samay supports the separate recording of travel time directly in the app. Employees can log their working time and travel time as distinct entries — even offline at the job site. The manager gets a real-time overview, overtime is calculated automatically, and GAV-compliant PDF reports can be generated in one tap.
The result: the new GAV requirements are met without paper reports being manually filled in and tracked down.
Summary
The GAV 2026–2029 brings real changes for painting and plastering businesses — binding from April 1. Updating your time tracking now means you're compliant from day one, and you'll save ongoing admin effort through automated reports.
