The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) is engaged in the project “Just Transition in the European Building and Construction Sector” of the Just Transition Centre (JTC).
The project’s objective is to strengthen a worker led Just Transition for the European construction sector. Trade union and worker representatives in companies need to prepare on how to respond to the changes and to protect and support workers. Only then the contribution to a sustainable transformation will succeed both by lowering emissions and ensuring that decent, green jobs are created and secured for a workforce that has the required skills and capacity to deliver on EU targets.
This cooperation will support EFBWW affiliates in developing capacity to empower workers and their unions to engage with employer organisations and national governments to ensure that workers’ needs are sufficiently supported, and the sector is adequately future proofed in relation to EU policy, and in particular the Renovation Wave and the Just Transition Mechanism.
The construction sector and the building environment need to undergo a profound transformation towards CO2 neutrality. As part of the current project with JTC EFBWW commissioned a study which will investigate the impact for workers in the sector. The objective is to better understand implications and effects of EU policies on the sector and on working conditions, such as health and safety and skills needs. The first results are to be expected in the 2nd quarter of 2025.
The outcomes of the study will feed into policy recommendations, but also into a training for trade union representatives negotiating collective agreements.