EVP Roxana Mînzatu with FIEC and EFBWW at the Oosterweel construction site visit
On 14 March, Executive Vice-President (EVP) of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, visited the Oosterweel construction site at the invitation of FIEC and EFBWW (European Federation of Builders and Wood Workers), the European social partners in the construction industry.
The visit, organised in cooperation with the Belgian sectoral social partners and Lantis, aimed at raising awareness about the reality of a construction worksite with all its complexity. The Oosterweel project is a huge infrastructure project in Antwerp, which will improve the transport network.
The visit was the occasion to present all the good practices on health and safety, transparency, and involving workers. On site, EVP Mînzatu and the participants also had an exchange with the involved companies and workers. The dialogue included the project challenges. Following the visit, FIEC and EFBWW shared their joint priorities and had informal talks with the EVP.
Piero Petrucco, FIEC President, stressed that “It is of key importance that policy makers understand the reality and specificities of our sector, in order to be able to propose an adequate and efficient regulatory framework”.
DESOCO2 Project meeting in Bratislava
On 13 March, FIEC and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) organised a thematic workshop on Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) in the EU construction sector, hosted at the premises of the European Labour Authority in Bratislava.
The event was held in the framework of DESOCO2, the EU-funded project, and brought together members of both federations with the aim to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to recruitment, working conditions and qualification recognition of TCNs.
ELA Executive Director, Cosmin Boiangiu, opened the workshop by highlighting the importance of the construction industry and gave a brief overview of ELA’s current activities. During the workshop, discussions focused on the role of TCNs in addressing labour shortages in construction, the EU Talent Mobility Package, qualification recognition, and the ELA study on TCNs recruitment patterns.
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European Commission’s first 100 Days: Moving forward together
“A Bolder, Simpler, Faster Union”
After 100 days since the new College of EU Commissioners took office on 1 December 2024, the European Commission highlights some key actions they have taken so far. After the last mandate, mainly focused on new legislation under the European Green Deal, we now see a re-prioritisation towards boosting Europe’s competitiveness. FIEC acknowledges the commitment shown so far, which aims to strengthen the European Union with a focus on competitiveness, security, and prosperity.
The main deliverables of the first three months are the two Omnibus Simplification Packages which are now entering the legislative co-decision procedure with the European Parliament and the EU Council. The goal is to reduce the administrative burden for companies by facilitating and streamlining key legislation of the European Green Deal as well as unlocking investment opportunities by optimising several investment programmes.
Some other (non-legislative) initiatives are namely the Clean Industrial Deal, a Union of Skills, and the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Steel Sector. At this point in time, an early indication of the direction taken by the European Commission is given, as well as of the future (legislative) follow-up initiatives that might be relevant to address.
While the intention to decarbonise and innovate is welcome, specific measures must be carefully managed to avoid additional regulatory burden. For an industry already struggling with rising material costs, skilled labour shortages, insufficient access to finance, and a lack of affordable housing, a more pragmatic, streamlined approach to regulation would serve Europe’s construction needs best.
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Coordination of Social Security: FIEC insists on mandatory prior notification
Last week, in a ioint statement co-signed with Business Europe and 5 other business organisations, FIEC reiterated its position that prior notification for the posting of construction workers must be mandatory from day one, in order to avoid all kinds of frauds.
The statement otherwise insists on digitalised approaches to this procedure, namely with an automated confirmation of receipt.
In this vein, FIEC and its co-signatories believe that the development and implementation of digital tools can help to further facilitate labour mobility, reduce bureaucracy and combat undeclared work. Digitalisation has great potential to accelerate and further simplify the coordination of social security systems in the EU. In this respect, FIEC and its co-signatories call for the full implementation of the European Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) system, as well as the roll out of the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS).
Further discussions are expected this week at the EU Council level. However, Member States do not seem to be ready to take the request of the construction industry on board.
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MEPs call on European Commission to limit Subcontracting
On 13 March, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved a Resolution on social and employment aspects of restructuring processes, with focus on the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights. This resolution recalls on the importance of the Social Dialogue and the involvement of social partners. This calls on the European Commission to “present an ambitious Quality Jobs Roadmap”.
The importance of skills and training opportunities for workers is also an important feature of the resolution. Finally, it calls on the European Commission “to consider the establishment of a framework directive to address the challenges and complexities associated with employers’ obligations in subcontracting chains and labour intermediaries in Europe”, including a limitation of subcontracting.
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