Migrant workers’ rights and heat stress take centre stage in BWI’s European regional meeting
Lesia Wasylenko highlighted that Europe has accepted 9 million refugees, many of whom are workers in BWI sectors. She noted that the political will and government resources made it possible to organise migration effectively, and stressed that BWI must continue supporting Ukrainian migrants who are likely to stay in Europe for an extended period.
Patrick Vandenberghe President of CSC ACV-BIE Belgium, highlighted the tragic 2021 scaffolding collapse in Antwerp, which claimed the lives of five migrant workers. This tragedy led to important reforms, especially in large infrastructure projects like Antwerp’s Oosterweel, which employs workers from 59 nationalities. Unions have since prioritised fair wages and improved protections for migrant workers.
Bruno Bothua from FNSCBA-CGT France discussed organising migrant workers on the Grand Paris and Olympic projects. In partnership with BWI, French unions secured stable contracts and better conditions for workers from North Africa and Eastern Europe, with a focus on legal aid and training programs.
Christian Fölzer from GBH Austria shared the success of organising Slovenian migrant workers through cross-border union collaboration, which provided training and legal protection. This initiative is now expanding to countries like Hungary and Bosnia.
Heat stress, intensified by climate change, was also a major concern.
Nina Kreutzmann of Rakennusliitto emphasised how recent heatwaves have had disastrous consequences across Europe, from closed airports in Hungary to power cuts in Romania and the closure of the Acropolis in Greece. She noted that 38% of construction workers in the EU are exposed to high temperatures for at least a quarter of their working hours, and in 2022, 61,000 deaths in the EU were attributed to summer heat. She stressed the urgent need for action to protect workers in BWI sectors.
Daniel Barragán from Spain’s CCOO del Hábitat explained the newly established protocol for high temperatures in construction. Developed through collective bargaining, it ensures practical measures for extreme heat, including the use of protective equipment and real-time alerts for heat risks.
Carsten Burkhardt from IG BAU Germany spoke about the Heat Action Day to raise awareness on heat stress and the Roofing Collective Bargaining Agreement, which includes provisions for roofers receiving a portion of their salary during heat stoppages. However, he noted that there is still no occupational exposure limit on heat stress.
Plamena Parteniotis from FCIW Bulgaria shared that extreme weather events have been increasing in Bulgaria, causing injuries, deaths, and losses. She emphasised the need for a national health and climate change strategy and noted ongoing efforts to recognise heatwaves as a valid reason for technical unemployment.
Andelko Kasunic from NCS Croatia discussed the increased awareness among Croats of the impacts of climate change, and how unions in Croatia have lobbied for protective measures in the Labour Code, including provisions for staggered working hours and water access to ensure workers’ safety during extreme heat.
The BWI Regional Committee meeting was opened by Per-Olof Sjöö, BWI President from GS, Sweden, together with Ramazan Agar, Acting BWI Regional Vice President for Europe from YOL-IS, Türkiye, and Ioanis Parteniotis, President of FCIW Podkrepa, Bulgaria. Agar underscored the importance of union solidarity and cross-border collaboration in addressing the intersecting challenges of migration and climate change in the construction industry.
Other guest speakers included Vaylo Ivanov, Bulgarian Minister of Labour, Vassil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia, and Dimitar Manolov, President of Podkrepa CL.