EURACTIV PR

An easy way of publishing your relevant EU press releases.

“Memorandum of Understanding” on the Sustainable Reconstruction of Ukraine signed by European Social Partners of the Construction industry

Date

21 Nov 2023

Sections

Sustainable Dev.

At the occasion of the Recovery Construction Forum 2.0 in Warsaw, Philip Crampton, President of the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and Tom Deleu, General Secretary of the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW), presented the "Memorandum of Understanding" on the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine.

In this Memorandum, the EFBWW and FIEC, the European sectoral Social Partners of the construction industry, recognise the important role of the European Union and its Member States in promoting a sustainability in the recovery phase of the country. They encourage the concerned stakeholders and authorities to put in place an adequate framework aiming at:

  • Combatting corruption and ensuring effective monitoring and inspection.
  • Promoting quality jobs.
  • Ensuring quality apprenticeships and the development of skills in collaboration with training facilities in EU Member States. Encouraging collective bargaining.
  • Adopting adequate occupational health and safety provisions in the construction sector, especially regarding the exposure of workers to asbestos.
  • Fostering the cooperation between Social Partners.

Johan Lindholm, EFBWW President, stressed that "there is no reconstruction of Ukraine without workers. They cannot be left behind. Workers' health and safety must be ensured, strict limits on the exposure to asbestos must be imposed and respected. That is the only way to stop an asbestos pandemic that is already threatening everyone. Direct jobs, quality jobs, and collective bargaining agreements must be the rule. Proper training must be given to workers".
"Finally, we ask more inspections to make sure that these basic rules are being respected and effective sanctions when they are not.

"Despite the technological developments, the construction activities remain mainly driven by people. Our workforce is a key pillar for the functioning of our companies. It is therefore our responsibility and our duty as employers to take care of our workers in all the work-related aspects (working conditions, safety, health, training,...)" - said Philip Crampton, FIEC President.

"The reconstruction of Ukraine will also need to take into account the social dimension, in particular because it is a fundamental element of the EU legislative framework that Ukraine will have to implement in view of a future accession to the EU" - added Philip Crampton.

After the signature of the Memorandum, representatives of the Construction and Building Materials' Industry Workers Union of Ukraine (PROFBUD) and the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine (CBU) shared with FIEC and EFBWW members their thoughts on the main challenges and needs regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine. The European Social Partners and their Ukrainian counterparts agreed to continue close cooperation and to work together for the implementation of this "Memorandum of Understanding".

Link to the Memorandum.

-

Contact EFBWW

Paula Cravina

EFBWW Communication Officer

pcravina@efbww.eu

The European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) is the European Workers' Industry Federation for the following sectors: building, woodworking, forestry and allied industries and trades. The EFBWW has 77 affiliated unions in 36 countries and represents a total of 1,500,000 members.

Contact FIEC:
Giulia Garofalo
FIEC Press & Communication Officer
+32 (0) 485 60 11 77
 
The European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) represents - via its 32 National member federations in 27 countries (24 EU, Norway, Switzerland & Ukraine) - construction enterprises of all sizes, i.e., small and medium-sized enterprises as well as "global players", carrying out all forms of building and civil engineering activities. FIEC is also the officially recognised Social Partner, representing employers, in the EU sectoral Social Dialogue for Construction.

 

Jobs

European DIGITAL SME Alliance
Membership Engagement Trainee
European DIGITAL SME Alliance
Project Management Trainee
European DIGITAL SME Alliance
Communications and Events Trainee
Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA - Corporate Center
Public Affairs Manager (m/w/d)
The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy
Communications Specialist
Euroheat & Power
Knowledge Transfer Assistant
SolarPower Europe
Digital Communications Intern