The COVID-19 crisis has turned into a European and global health crisis. More and more countries are taking measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Most countries are practicing some kind of “confinement”. Some countries are going in a complete lockdown.
These measures have an enormous impact on economies, on social and political life and on society as a whole. In some countries, our industries have come to a complete standstill. In other countries, no or very little measures have been taken until now.
Faced with the current health situation, the EFBWW and its affiliates are very concerned about the fact that many workers in our sectors:
- cannot work from home;
- cannot respect the requirements related to social distancing;
- do not possess the necessary protective equipment or work on sites with very basic (hygienic) facilities, etc.
- are posted or migrant workers and quite often have to live together in groups in very basic accommodations and are quite often employed via precarious contracts (self-employed, zero-hours contract, mini-job,…).
The COVID-19 is first and foremost a health crisis. The EFBWW wants to remind all that health insurance and social protection are basic human rights and should be treated as such: health before profit!
The EFBWW will start to prepare a position paper for targeted European measures to support jobs in our industries after the end of this crisis. We believe our industries will be crucial for a quick economic recovery. And we believe our industries are crucial for a just transition towards a carbon neutral society in 2050.
- More information:
• EFBWW solidarity statement (in EN, FR, D, IT) - • The ETUC has created a webpage dedicated to EU and national trade union responses to COVID-19 crisis: www.etuc.org/en/trade-unions-and-coronavirus
- • The COVID-19 crisis is a global crisis; to know more about trade union responses worldwide, see BWI website (www.bwint.org/cms/covid-19-1689)
and ITUC website (www.ituc-csi.org/covid-19-responses?lang=en)
- • Joint European Trade Union Federations’ Recommendations to EWC/SE Coordinators and worker representatives in SNBs, EWCs and SEs (available in English, Italian, French, German, Czech, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish) and joint ETUF recommendations to EWC/SE on “How to deal with EWC/SE negotiations during the COVID-19 crisis (available in English, Italian, French, German, Czech, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish).
- • Joint ETUC & European trade union federations statement for Workers Memorial Day 2020
• EFBWW and BWI focus on COVID 19 for the WMD 2020 (poster in English, French, German and Spanish)
- • EFBWW condemns Commission’s decision on COVID-19: Workers deserve full protection
The EFBWW has prepared a motion and a document with 26 concrete demands for the coming 12 months to guide the economic recovery in the Covid-19 era. The Executive Committee adopted these documents at its meeting today.
The EFBWW approved its position on the European Green Deal at its Executive Committee meeting, which took place today.
- Joint statements with sectoral employer federations
Joint statement of the European social partners of the Construction industry on COVID-19 crisis
Joint statement of the European social partners of the Woodworking and Furniture Industries on COVID-19 crisis
EU-OSHA Guidance for the workplace
Back to the workplace - Adapting workplaces and protecting workers (available in English, Italian, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Danish, Swedish)
Responses from our affiliates to the Corona / COVID-19 crisis:
In the past days, we have seen that EFBWW affiliates are working hard to find appropriate, sometimes very creative answers to protect workers. Taking into account the specific framework that might exist in different countries related to health insurance, social protection, labour relations, and ways to support workers and companies, we have asked affiliates to fill in a COVID-19 questionnaire, with the objective to make an inventory of actions, as we believe everyone can learn from experiences in other countries.
You can find specific responses listed per country.
Many affiliates have set up specific webpages related to COVID-19. These are also listed. If we have received other materials, we have also added them.
Austria |
GBH page with all information and communication related to COVID-19: www.gbh-news.at/corona-info/ GBH reply to EFBWW questionnaire GBH reply to updated questionnaire |
Belgium |
Press release (NL/FR) - Framework for Building activities during COVID-19 Pamflet (NL)/ Pamflet (FR) - Sectoral framework for building activities during COVID-19 Constructiv guidelines preventive measures on construction sites (NL and FR) ACV-CSC BIE ACV-CSC BIE reply to updated questionnaire - Communiqué de presse ERMG - Cadre Sectoriel - Déclaration sectorielle des partenaires ACCG ABVV-FGTB The ACCG has started a campaign for the recognition of COVID-19 as a profissional disease. Please click the link below to sign the petition: AC ABVV reply to EFBWW questionnaire AC ABVV reply to the EFBWW questionnaire regarding Woodworking and Furniture sector AC ABVV reply to the EFBWW questionnaire regarding Cement industry AC ABVV reply to the EFBWW questionnaire regarding Concrete industry CGSLB |
Croatia |
SGH: general website |
Czech Republic |
OS STAVBA: general website |
Denmark |
BAT: BAT reply to EFBWW questionnaire 3F : webpage dedicated to the Corona virus 3F/CO reply to EFBWW questionnaire Malerforbundet: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Dansk El-Forbund: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Dansk Metal: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Co-industri: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Blik-og Rørarbejderforbundet: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
Finland |
Rakennusliitto: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Teollisuusliitto: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Reply to updated questionnaire - Business Cycle survey of the Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industry PRO: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
France |
FO CFDT: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus https://www.cfdt-construction-bois.fr/actu-covid-19/actus-juridiques.html FNCB reply to EFBWW questionnaire FNCB reply to updated questionnaire FNSCBA-CGT: General website Fédération BATI - MAT - T.P. / CFTC : General Website |
Germany |
IG BAU: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Press Release (DE) - Safety First FAQ (DE) - Hygiene prescriptions Fact sheet (DE / ROM / POL / Serbocroat) for building site IG Metall: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
Greece |
Greek Federation of Workers and Employees in Cement Industry |
Ireland |
SIPTU: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus SIPTU reply to updated questionnaire |
Italy |
Poster on measures to be taken against Covid-19 (outcome of a Protocol signed by Italian Government and Social Partners on 25/03) A protected building site is built together FENEAL-UIL: general website FILCA-CISL: general website WEBINAR 9 April 2020 Toolbox 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guideline Video FILLEA-CGIL: general website Fillea-CGIL letter (English, French, Romanian and Albanian) and leaflet (English, French, Romanian and Albanian) informing migrant workers about their rights FENEAL-UIL, FILCA-CISL, FILLEA-CGIL reply to updated questionnaire Briefing in easing the Lockdown measures Agreement and Protocol with ANCE, ACI-PL, ANAEPA CONFARTIGIANTO, CNA COSTRUZIONI, FIAE CASARTIGIANI, CLAAI, CONFAPI ANIEM and TRADE UNIONS Protocol MIT and TRADE UNIONS Protocol MIT, ANAS, RFI, ANE and TRADE UNIONS |
Lithuania | |
Luxembourg |
OGB-L: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus LCGB: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
The Netherlands |
FNV: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus National measures CNV: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
Norway |
Norsk Arbeidsmandsforbund: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus EL og IT forbundet: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Industri Energi: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Fellesforbundet: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Fellesforbundet reply to EFBWW questionnaire |
Poland |
Solidarnosc: general website Budowlani reply to EFBWW questionnaire |
Slovak Republic |
IOZ: general website |
Slovenia |
SDGD: general website |
Spain |
Joint Press release UGT FICA/CCOO Construcción y Servicios UGT FICA: general website Guide for action on prevention due to COVID-19 on construction sector websites CCOO Construcción y Servicios: general website ELA Industry and Construction Federation: general website |
Sweden |
GS: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Byggnads: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Svenska Elektrikerförbundet: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Svenska Malareförbundet: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Unionen: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus Information on sector specific agreements related to COVID SEKO: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
Switzerland |
UNIA: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus SYNA: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
Turkey |
YOL-IS: general website YOL-IS reply to the EFBWW questionnaire ÖZ AĞAÇ-IŞ: webpage dedicated to the Corona virus |
UK |
UNITE UNITE message on Corona Risk assessment and procedure COVID-19 UNITE published a document which spells out the workers' right to return to a safe workplace Workers' right to return to a safe workplace Campaign launched to encourage the uptake of the vaccine https://unitetheunion.org/getajab/ GMB |