Labour mobility in European building and infrastructure is at a turning point. Against this backdrop, the www.constructionworkers.eu portal has become the main online information platform for construction workers from third countries entering the European labour market, in a sector that EU institutions identify as one of the most exposed to exploitation.
The European portal www.constructionworkers.eu has established itself as the main online information platform for construction workers from third countries entering the European labour market. Its growth comes at a key moment for labour mobility in the building and infrastructure sector across the continent, which is facing a turning point.
Thousands of construction workers use the platform every day before crossing a border to carry out their work. The portal provides direct access to accurate and verified information on wages, working hours, holiday entitlements, pensions and how to contact the relevant trade unions in each territory.
36 countries and 40 languages to understand labour rights
The website currently covers a total of 36 European countries and is available in 40 languages, allowing professionals to learn about their rights transparently both before and during their period of employment on European soil.
The platform offers coverage in 40 languages to construction workers carrying out their activity in 36 European countries.
The initiative is co-financed by the European Union, whose support has been key to consolidating the portal as an essential resource for the protection of mobile workers.
A sector flagged for its exposure to labour exploitation
EU institutions have repeatedly acknowledged that construction is one of the sectors most vulnerable to labour exploitation, social dumping and the activities of organised crime. European authorities therefore insist that, alongside stronger inspections and legal compliance, it is essential to ensure that workers themselves have direct channels of information on the legal framework protecting their activity.
Guaranteeing workers direct access to legal information has become a priority in the fight against fraud in the sector.
The debate on pay across the building value chain
This progress in the protection and transparency of working conditions coincides with the ongoing debate in Spain on pay within the building ecosystem. Construnews recently analysed the salary reality of architects following the meetings and conferences organised by the Superior Council of Architects’ Associations of Spain (CSCAE) and the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC) within the framework of the International Union of Architects (UIA) Congress.
Those events highlighted the need to dignify economic and contractual conditions at every scale of the building value chain, from the design phase to physical execution on site. The wage gap, precariousness in the early stages of professional careers and the lack of standardised conditions across territories are common challenges affecting both technical profiles and on-site labour.
he wage gap, early-career precariousness and uneven conditions across territories affect technical staff and site workers alike.
Towards a more regulated and transparent construction market
The consolidation of EU tools such as www.constructionworkers.eu reinforces the trend towards a more regulated, transparent and safe construction market, in which training, knowledge of the regulatory environment and pay equity are decisive for attracting and retaining talent across Europe.