Fair Labour Mobility: FIEC and EVP Roxana Mînzatu at European Commission’s Implementation Dialogue
As the European Commission is preparing the launch of a Fair Labour Mobility, on 16 September, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, hosted an Implementation Dialogue with a selection of EU Social Partners, relevant organisations and Member State’s representatives. Director for Social Affairs, Christine Le Forestier, attended the roundtable on behalf of FIEC.
Together with transport and hospitality, construction has been identified amongst the most relevant sectors targeted by this forthcoming initiative. Le Forestier pointed out that, “for the sake of a healthy and mobile construction industry, FIEC is calling for better information to be provided to companies and workers about their rights and duties, better enforcement of the comprehensive set of existing rules – with the help of sectoral social ID cards where they exist – better recognition of professional qualification to facilitate the free movement of workers, and a positive guidance for the recruitment and integration of Third-Country National workers. Moreover, the digitalisation of procedures and data must aim at simplifying’s companies’ life without jeopardising enforcement and controls.”
Reacting to the trade unions’ repeated request to limit subcontracting, Le Forestier insisted that imposing limits on subcontracting at the EU level is not the right approach. What companies need is to be provided with the proper tools to control who they are doing business with.
In her conclusions, EVP Mînzatu informed that the forthcoming package, to be presented during the first half of 2026, will address:
- The work and mandate of the European Labour Authority (ELA);
- Digitalisation of social security coordination and the launch of the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS);
- Legal clarity on posting of Third-Country Nationals;
- Subcontracting chains abusive practices and frauds in risky sectors;
- Automatic recognition of professional qualifications.
| FIEC ARTICLE |
FIEC opposes restrictions at the EU level aimed at limiting subcontracting
In a Position Paper adopted 16 September, FIEC insisted on companies’ freedom to provide services, which also implies that they are free to choose their business partners as well as the form of the partnership. While it can take many different forms, subcontracting is a vital part of the construction industry, stresses the FIEC paper.
Subcontracting allows companies to respond to project demand flexibility, access specialised expertise, cushion the shortage of skilled workforce and maintain competitiveness.
FIEC believes that the calls for EU-wide limits on subcontracting misunderstand how the industry operates and risk damaging efficiency, innovation, and the participation of SMEs, who are the backbone of the construction industry.
Rather than imposing one-size-fits-all limits, FIEC advocates that the EU should rather focus on better enforcement of existing laws and support digital tools for transparency and compliance.
| FIEC POSITION |
New e-leaflet:
“FIEC Key Figures – 2025 edition”
The 2025 edition of the e-leaflet “FIEC Key Figures” (based on 2024 data) is now available for download. Have a look at its content deriving from this year’s “FIEC Statistical Report” and presenting construction activity in Europe. An overview on the main activities, total investment, and jobs in construction.
For more information, visit the site of the “FIEC Statistical Report” and gain insight into construction and its significance for the economy as a whole. You will find there additional sectoral figures, trends, data and activity.
| E-LEAFLET |
Member States endorse the “Herning Declaration”
On 12 September, under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ministers in charge of VET (Vocation and Educational Traning), European social partners and the European Commission adopted the “Herning Declaration” (named after Herning, a city in Denmark where the European Union ministers met and adopted the declaration) on attractive and inclusive VET for increased competitiveness and quality jobs 2026-2030.
With this declaration, they commit to a set of objectives at national and European levels, such as enhancing the attractiveness of VET, increasing adult participation, addressing shortage of trainers and teachers in VET, developing the mobility of learners, teachers and trainers and call the European Commission to come up with an ambitious new VET strategy.
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EU-US productivity gap:
EEI published first study of a series
The European Employers’ Institute (EEI), published the first study of a series of three on “Understanding the EU-US labour productivity gap”.
The study looks at how the EU–US productivity gap has evolved over the past decades: before 2007, there was a 1%-point growth gap mainly in manufacturing and services; between 2007 and 2019, both slowed, but the US pulled ahead in ICT; since 2019, the gap has widened further, especially in ICT and business services.
The document identifies 11 key factors behind Europe’s labour productivity lag, including business dynamism, human capital and skills mismatch, limited ICT investment, as well as the administrative complexity and regulatory burden. Finally, it shows that while all sectors are affected by the gap, the impact has been greatest in some sectors such as ICT, business services and industry.
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European Parliament’s HOUS Committee draft report published
In a draft report published on 15 September, European Parliament’s Rapporteur, Borja Gimenez Larraz (ES-EPP), underlines that the main cause of the housing crisis is the insufficient supply of dwellings
In the first place, MEP Gimenez Larraz calls public authorities to reduce regulatory burdens along the entire value chain. In line with the FIEC position, he calls for simplification, increased capacity building and digital measures, on the side of local and regional authorities, as well as on targeted public and private investment to foster productivity and efficiency in the construction process, including through further industrialisation. He also highlights the need to improve zoning and permitting processes and to reconcile environmental with economic objectives. The European Commission and Member States are namely called to fully integrate the Renovation Wave strategy into housing policies, ensuring that building renovation is not only focused on energy efficiency, but also on increasing housing supply.
Last but not least, the draft report understands affordable housing in a broad way, targeting not only those most vulnerable groups of people, but also young people and middle-income households.
Last week was also the deadline of the European Commission’s call for evidence for the European housing construction strategy. FIEC contributed with a paper which highlighted 5 priorities:
- Accelerating zoning, planning and infrastructure projects;
- Fully digitalisation building permit procedures;
- Accelerating the standardisation process of construction materials;
- Stepping up the mobilisation of both public and private investment;
- And addressing the labour and skills’ gap in construction.
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#FIEC120 – The wishes from our Belgian member Embuild
Looking ahead at the celebration for the 120th anniversary of FIEC, Niko Demeester, Chief Executive Officer of our Belgian member Embuild, released his warm message to congratulate on this important milestone to be shared with the construction community.
Mr Demeester brings our memory back to 1905, when the first “brick” of FIEC was laid down in the city of Liege (Belgium).
We thank Niko Demeester and all our Embuild colleagues for the longlasting strong and close cooperation and the remarkable work carried out together over the past…and particularly since 2022, under the same roof of the HUBB building in Brussels! “We stand shoulder to shoulder (…) for the construction industry“, stressed Demeester in this video.
| WATCH VIDEO |