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The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) and the Polish trade union ZZ Budowlani urge the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to finalise the negotiations on the revision of the coordination of social security regulations with an agreement which ensures mandatory prior notification for the construction sector.
There is now a unique opportunity to conclude a file first proposed in 2016 – nine years ago - in a way that effectively improves conditions on the ground and reinforces the existing framework for the posting of workers. Therefore, we call on the Polish presidency to schedule all the trilogue meetings, on political and technical levels, with the European Commission and the European Parliament, to close the deal. The appeal came directly from the XII Budowlani Congress taking place today in Warsaw, Poland.
We underline once again the deep concern about the proposed exemptions to prior notification requirements for short posting periods and business trips, which could weaken protections for workers in the construction sector and undermine the integrity of inspections.
Such exemptions create potential loopholes that could be exploited by unscrupulous companies, leading to unfair competition, workers without social security coverage and to a loss of trust in the effectiveness of EU social protections. These risks are incompatible with the objectives of economic security and social cohesion that the Polish Presidency has identified as priorities.
EFBWW General Secretary, Tom Deleu: “We make a clear appeal to the Polish Presidency and to the Polish Minister of Social Affairs: Close the deal! But a deal that is fair for workers, for posted workers and a deal that supports genuine construction companies. A deal that includes mandatory prior notification for posted workers in construction including for short posting periods and business trips. We must not miss this opportunity: construction workers deserve it”.
Budwolani president, Zbigniew Janowski: “Poland is one of the main sending countries in the EU in terms of posted workers. It is vital that posted and migrant workers - who are so necessary in a sector struggling with labour shortages -, are protected at all levels. Prior notification must be mandatory in the construction sector. This is essential to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure fair competition across the EU’s Internal Market, particularly in sectors exposed to fraud such as construction.”
This demand – which is a joint demand with the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), with the support of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and of the European Builders Confederation (EBC) – cannot be ignored.