DESOCO2 - Follow up of Decentralised Thematic Social Dialogue for the Construction Industry – Social Dialogue Project

Brief description and main aims: 

The European Social partners of the construction industry, FIEC and the European  Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) have established one of the first  European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees. Over the years, both organisations have continuously re-affirmed their long-term commitment to develop sustainable industrial  relations. 

General objectives of the project are to: 

• promote the European Social Dialogue at national level, while at the same time  encouraging national social partners, especially from the Central and Eastern  European Countries (CEECs), to be more involved in the European Social  Dialogue of the construction industry. 
• continue reinforcing the capacity of national social partners to engage in social  dialogue 
• strengthen involvement of social partners in EU policy making; 
• discuss the social and economic challenges which will determine the future  construction labour market.  

During 2 years FIEC and EFBWW will organise 4 thematic meetings.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

In 2017, EFBWW and FIEC, together with AEIP, agreed on a long-term cooperation  agreement. Social partners committed “to intensify their collaboration with a view to further  strengthen industrial relation in the construction industry at EU-level”. In addition, EFBWW  and FIEC committed themselves to strengthen, reinforce and promote industrial relations  in the construction industry at all levels as well as better coordinate joint research of the  European social dimension of the construction industry. 

One specific element of the cooperation agreement is that the partners will make better  use of the existing EU budget lines related to “industrial relations and social dialogue”,  with regards to initiatives targeting Central and East European Countries (CEECs).