The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers publishes its position on the European Affordable Housing Plan, welcoming the European Commission’s initiative to develop it. However, the EFBWW warns that the plan must not overlook the people who make it possible - the construction workers.
Construction workers, the very people who build our homes, must themselves have the right to live in decent housing. However, this is far from guaranteed. Despite their essential role, construction workers on average earn less than the EU-wide average gross hourly wage across all sectors, making housing affordability a pressing issue. The situation is even more severe for posted, mobile, and migrant workers, who are too often housed in inadequate or poor conditions, exposing deep inequalities within the sector.
Affordable housing and energy efficiency are intrinsically connected. If decarbonisation measures for buildings overlook social safeguards, they risk worsening the housing crisis.
Addressing this challenge requires not only the construction of new energy-efficient homes but also a significant acceleration of renovation efforts. Building energy efficiency is especially crucial in light of the EU ETS2 (Emissions Trading System for Buildings, Road Transport and Additional Sectors), which could otherwise deepen energy poverty.
This initiative is an opportunity for construction workers and the entire sector, enabling Europe to develop better building methods - more efficient, more affordable, more climate smart, and grounded in improved working conditions. It is a chance to drive sustainable productivity and innovation in the construction industry. To succeed, this transition must be accompanied by sustainable, permanent jobs covered by the applicable collective bargaining agreements, where employers invest and continue to invest in their workforce. Tasks must not be fragmented in ways that erode job quality; instead, workers should remain broadly skilled and employable.