“The construction heroes” : a campaign for improving the image of the sector
Demographic developments are resulting in fewer school leavers. In addition, the trend towards academic training is reducing the number of young people that complete an apprenticeship, with the result that apprenticeship positions in the construction sector remain vacant. Recruitment therefore plays an important role in continuing to secure young trainees for the construction industry in the future. For this reason, from 13/9 our Swiss member federation, the Swiss Master Builders’ Association, is launching the docusoap «The Construction Heroes» (in DE, FR and IT) as part of its image campaign under the heading of «Build Your Future». The first season accompanies young people through their day-to-day life – showing close up the advantages of life on the building site, which is nevertheless occasionally demanding. The objective of the campaign is therefore to successfully enhance the image of building professions. You can find more information on this initiative by clicking on the button below.
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Commission’s ill-conceived #EUservicesEcard threatens construction sector
On Friday 8th September, the social partners of the construction, cleaning and insurance industries held a hearing on the proposed services e-card. In particular, the potential negative impact and far reaching social consequences of the proposed services e-card on these sectors were examined.
The sectoral social partners are convinced that the services e-card is likely to exacerbate current fraud and facilitate new cases, leading to bogus self-employment, undeclared work, fake posting, an increased administrative burden, additional cost and noncompliance with social and labour regulations.
Mr. Vincent Detemmerman, Director of International affairs at the Belgian Construction Confederation, highlighted that the added-value of the services e-card would be very low for construction companies, compared to the trouble it would cause.
FIEC is therefore asking that the construction sector be taken out of the scope of the proposal.
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EIB to lend €12 billion to transport and energy projects
Mid-July, the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved new financing totalling €12 billion in support of new investments in 63 projects, in particular in the fields of transport and energy.
The EIB will award loans of €5 billion to 14 projects in the transport sector, including metro lines in Paris (€1.5 billion), urban railways in Liège, Hanover and Bremen, port facilities in Hamburg, road and motorway facilities in Germany, the Netherlands and Latvia and a new toll system for heavy goods vehicles in Slovenia.
The EIB will also lend a total of €4.3 billion to projects in sustainable energy, including projects for onshore wind power, hydroelectricity and the installation of smart meters in Italy. It will also support projects in energy efficiency, solar, wind power and urban heating in France. New EIB funding will enable the reinforcement and extension of the gas distribution network in Ireland and Spain.
Loans for a total of €1 billion will fund projects to improve water infrastructure in Portugal, Italy and Spain.
Other loans totalling €480 million will support broadband internet access and improve communication, with investments in favour of broadband infrastructure networks in four regions of France and Germany.
The EIB will also support investments aimed at improving education, housing, research and healthcare: improving infrastructures of the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, the construction of a regional hospital in Breda and affordable housing on brownfield sites in Belgium, France and Poland.
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