Recovery of the construction and public works sector: Adjustments to site hours and restriction of noisy activities

To support those in the construction industry who have been impacted by the health crisis as a result of building site closures, the Government recently adopted some recovery measures for this key economic sector. These will go some way towards mitigating the delays caused by site closures and help to ensure proper compliance with health security measures.

“The Government has been keen to respond to appeals from Monegasque businesses in the construction and public works sector, and to support them as they resume their activities, while keeping in mind that the measures implemented must strike a fair balance between such support and maintaining quality of life for Monegasque nationals and residents of the Principality,” stressed Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development.

The measures, which will initially apply until 31 December 2020, introduce extended working hours for construction sites and restrict noisy activities.

At the vast majority of sites, the arrival time for workers has been brought forward to 6.30 a.m., in a bid to avoid large numbers of arrivals at 7.30 a.m. and organise social distancing as soon as work begins. The time during which work can be carried out has been extended from 7.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week (Monday to Friday). Certain sites are authorised to work between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays, with workers permitted to arrive from 8 a.m. At these sites, workers’ arrival time from Monday to Friday is set at 7 a.m., with work to be conducted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Activities carried out during the extended working hours must not be noisy. As such, no pile-driving or drilling work may be carried out before 8.30 a.m. or after 7.30 p.m. during the week (Monday to Friday), or before 9.30 a.m. or after 12.30 p.m. on Saturdays. In the event of a failure to comply, the changes to site hours may be revoked at any time.

 Construction sites will be closed on the following public holidays: Saturday 15 August 2020, Thursday 19 November 2020, Friday 25 December 2020 and Friday 1 January 2021.