The European Builders Confederation (EBC) welcomes Eurofound’s 2024 study on representativeness in the European construction sector, which highlights the crucial role of micro and small enterprises. Representing 56.8% of all microfirms (less than 10 employees) surveyed, EBC plays a vital role in advocating for this segment. The findings support EBC’s long-standing request to join the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the construction sector (ESSDC) as a full partner to fill a gap in the representation of micro and small enterprises.
In Europe, 94% of construction companies have fewer than 10 employees, while 99% are SMEs. Of these, at least 247,594 companies are affiliated to EBC. More specifically, micro enterprises represent 90.5% of EBC members in terms of companies and more than half of all microfirms in Eurofound’s study
Eurofound’s findings confirm that no single organisation can claim to be fully representative of employers in the sector., with EBC leading in representing companies with up to 9 employees.
As the most representative organisation for micro companies, EBC renews its long-standing call for an inclusive, proportional, and fair approach to employer representation. Almost two decades after its initial request to become a full partner, EBC has only a very limited role in the ESSDC. Not only does this situation not reflect the diversity of the sector, but it leaves the most critical segment underrepresented and many construction companies and their workers excluded at a time when the European Commission is seeking to extend the coverage of social dialogue.
EBC’s requests and recommendations
Building on the successful cooperation with FIEC and EFBWW on initiatives such as the Pact for Skills and the Erasmus+-funded Construction Blueprint for skills, but also on the leadership of the European Commission with the La Hulpe Declaration, the Val-Duchesse process and the ongoing efforts for a Pact for Social Dialogue, EBC calls on the European Commission and the sectoral social partners to:
- Recognise the distinct and complementary roles within the ESSDC employers’ delegation;
- Acknowledge the mutual recognition between FIEC, EFBWW and EBC, as demonstrated by formal and positive cooperation;
- Reject any misuse of the principle of social partner autonomy that hinders the inclusiveness and modernisation of sectoral social dialogue;
- Establish a collaborative framework to define a fair participation, based on representativeness criteria such as the number of companies for employers;
- Guarantee the direct participation of EBC in all relevant sectoral social dialogue activities, including ESSDC plenary and working group meetings, EU-funded capacity building projects, the Liaison Forum, and consultation by the European Labour Authority;
- Include EBC in the list of organisations to be consulted under Article 154 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
“It is time to ensure that Europe’s largest group of construction companies—micro-enterprises—has a full voice in the social dialogue,” says EBC President Philip van Nieuwenhuizen. “EBC’s inclusion will increase the diversity, fairness and effectiveness of the discussions, so that all companies and workers are heard at a time of many transitions — green, digital, and workforce reskilling— in our sector. EBC stands ready to work with our fellow social partners, and the European Commission to promote and set in motion a more inclusive, effective, and dynamic social dialogue.“
This research report is a call to action for all construction stakeholders to adopt a collaborative and forward-looking approach that reflects the evolving industry. As Europe faces pressing challenges, the construction sector needs a robust and inclusive social dialogue.
EBC remains committed to representing the unique needs and contributions of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and craft trades, and to ensuring their fair access to European arenas.
 | To download the Eurofound Research Report ‘Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Construction sector’, click here. The report provides an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the ESSDC. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the committee and their capacity to negotiate agreements. EBC salutes the methodology, ambition and granularity of this new exercise, which lays the ground for a more inclusive and effective sectoral social dialogue at EU level. |