Today the National collective agreement in construction and building materials sectors was signed between the Ministry for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine and PROFBUD – Construction and Building Materials Industry Workers’ Union of Ukraine.
"This agreement will improve the lives of 650,000 Ukrainian construction workers," said PROFBUD President Vasyl Andreyev. "It would not have been possible without the efforts of our fellow BWI affiliates across the globe."
According to the Agreement the tariffs and basic salaries which were calculated before starting from the subsistence level will be increased for 35 percent since September 1, 2017 and reach 60% of wage increase in December 1, 2017. Simultaneously new guaranties of jobs protection from collective redundancies is introduced in line with EU Directive 98/59/EC.
Agreement parties also concluded on framework of further negotiations concerning best international health and safety practices implementation in Ukrainian legislation (ILO Conventions 167, 121 and 187ratification).
New separate obligations on gender equalities are foreseen by the National collective agreement as well as social protection and obligatory special insurance in case of HIV infection.
The National collective agreement was a result of efforts of hundreds of union organizations in Ukraine and abroad. BWI supported PROFBUD’s struggle during “spring offensive”. The European and Asian continents were swept by number of activities and protests in the beginning of 2017. BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson during his personal participation in PROFBUD’s rally in support of the National collective agreement delivered a strong message of support to Ukrainian workers’ demands of better salaries and working conditions.
The National collective agreement in construction and building materials sectors will influence working conditions and salary increasing of more than 650 thousand construction workers and tens of thousands more of those who work in building materials sectors like cement, gypsum mixes and boards, metal and wood works, brick, non-metallic and ceramic production, building transport as well as in many more other sectors covered by this comprehensive Agreement.