Over the last years the EFBWW, FIEC and AEIP implemented several projects targeting CEECs (paritarian funds, health and safety,…). Unfortunately, it seems that little progress has been made so far in terms of achievement, follow-up and implementation of such initiatives by the involved national social partners. At the same time very little progress has been made to strengthen the capacity of both the trade unions and employers’ representatives in
industrial relations.
This situation is a threat for the development of a long-term sustainable industrial policy system in the construction industry, which faces many challenges, such as the greening of the economy, building a fair level playing field, attracting new workers, ensuring high OSH standards,… These transitions can only take place if a genuine system of industrial relations is effectively existing and fulfilling its role.
Over the last decade the system of industrial relations in the construction industry has significantly deteriorated in the CEECs. The project does not aim to look at the past (focusing on causes, reasons,…), but on the future (challenges and opportunities) to build and strengthen a system of properly functioning industrial relations in the construction industry in the CEECs. In achieving this objective, a sense of realism is absolutely required. This is why the European social partners of the construction industry, together with AEIP, agreed on a long-term cooperation agreement and have developed this project on a grassroots basis, taking into account the diversity of challenges and intending to provide “ownership” to the concerned social partners in the CEECs.
With the new proposed project, the partners (EFBWW, FIEC and AEIP) aim at creating a stronger added value for the concerned organisations in the CEECs and to strengthen the capacity of the trade unions and the employer’s federations to enter in “negotiation” within a system of industrial relations.
By joining our efforts and setting common priorities the EFBWW, FIEC and AEIP can also make much better use of each other’s expertise, know-how and resources.
The overall objectives and activities of the proposed project, will be divided in two parts:
A. The first part (2018), envisages a detailed practical sectoral industrial relations mapping exercise of the construction industry in the CEECs. This study will complement the existing EUROFOUND representativeness study with concrete data, information, experiences, challenges, difficulties, opportunities and threats regarding the system of industrial relations in each target country.
B. The second part (2019) of the project application, aims at launching four open thematic debates with the social partners of the construction industry of the target countries and relevant stakeholders on the priorities identified during the first phase.
EFBWW, FIEC and AEIP have in their respective internal discussions already identified the following possible issues to be addressed
- Strengthening innovative recruiting in the construction industry, with a particular focus on young workers and young entrepreneurs;
- Strengthening Health and Safety through industrial relations;
- Strengthening and/or building paritarian social funds and schemes,;
- Strengthening the fight against Undeclared Work in the construction industry and ensuring a fair level playing field for all;
At the end of the second project year, it is envisaged to organise a one-day evaluation seminar in Brussels. This final seminar will be linked to a meeting of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the Construction Industry. The seminar will also discuss how to strengthen the capacity of the national social partners to be more involved within the respective European Federations and the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee of the construction industry, including discussions on European policy mechanisms, such as the European Semester and the Europe 2020 Agenda