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European Project “Under Construction”

Twinning seminar FMB / FOI7th April 2008

Federation of Master BuildersGordon Fisher House

14/15 Great James Street, London

Co-financed by DG Employment and Social Affairs - European Commission

  CONTENTSCONTENTS

1.1. The European Builders Confederation EBCThe European Builders Confederation EBC

2.2. The seminarThe seminar

3.3. The Maltese sideThe Maltese side

4.4. The UK sideThe UK side

5.5. Seminar evaluationSeminar evaluation

WHO WE AREWHO WE ARE

The E.B.C. (European Builders Confederation) The Voice of Construction Craft and SMEs in Europe

EBC was established in 1990

Now: 16 members in 11 EU countries

In total EBC represents600.000 Craftsmen and SMEs from the construction sector

employing 2.500.000 workers

20-25 members of the Board of Directors

100 delegates to the General Assembly

3 permanent members of staff in Brussels’ based Secretariat

WHAT WE DOWHAT WE DO

1. EU legislation• Monitoring• Lobbying

2. EU standardisation• Influencing Technical Committees of the CEN• Cooperating with NORMAPME

3. EU projects funded by the Commission • Implementation of European Policies• Exchange of best practices

HOW WE WORKHOW WE WORK

1. EBC’s internal structure

2. EBC’s external cooperation:Other EU associations: UEAPME / NORMAPMESocial Partners: FIEC / EFBWW

EBC has obtained two observer seatsEBC has obtained two observer seats

3. EBC’s communication:• Internal circulars

• The EBC Publications:- A newsletter (every 2 months) in 4 languages (Fr, En, Es, It)- An annual report in 2 or 3 languages (Fr, En, + 1)- Press releases (Fr, En)- Position papers (Fr, En)

THE SEMINAR / 1THE SEMINAR / 1

25th January 2008 – Malta12 participants

Ray MUSCAT, Director General - Presentation of FOI’s structure and work

Angelo XUEREB, President FOBC- Presentation on Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors

Tonio FARRUGIA- Presentation on Malta Social Dialogue

David CROFT, EBC President- Presentation on FMB’s structure

Brian BERRY, Director of External Affairs- Presentation on FMB’s participation to the sectoral social dialogue

 

Malta Federation Of Industry FOIFounded in 1946 - 275 affiliated member firms -some 25,000 employees14% of members are from the Construction sector

Federation of Building & Civil Engineering Contractors FOBCSet up in 2000 - 11 member firms (major building contractors) FOBC affiliated to FOI since 2004

Anglo-Saxon model of industrial relations

Several similarities: Wage negotiationVoluntary bipartite agreements Consultative role with the Government

THE SEMINAR / 2THE SEMINAR / 2

 THE MALTESE SIDE / 1THE MALTESE SIDE / 1

Industrial relations system is based on the British model:Industrial relations system is based on the British model:Voluntary bi-partite collective bargaining at enterprise levelVoluntary bi-partite collective bargaining at enterprise levelPolarised adversarial relationship between employers and trade unionsPolarised adversarial relationship between employers and trade unionsAlmost total absence of sectoral level bargainingAlmost total absence of sectoral level bargaining

33 registered 33 registered trade unionstrade unions 86,000 members 86,000 members 23 23 employersemployers associations associations 9,000 members9,000 members

5 main employers’ organisations:5 main employers’ organisations:Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise (COCE)Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise (COCE)Chamber of Small & Medium Size Enterprises (GRTU)Chamber of Small & Medium Size Enterprises (GRTU)Federation of Malta Industry (FOI)Federation of Malta Industry (FOI)Malta Employers Association (MEA)Malta Employers Association (MEA)Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association (MHRA)Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association (MHRA)

The FOI takes part in the National Social Dialogue through:The FOI takes part in the National Social Dialogue through:1. The Malta Council for Economic & Social Development1. The Malta Council for Economic & Social Development2. The Employment Relations Board2. The Employment Relations Board

The Social Dialogue issues are the following:The Social Dialogue issues are the following:- National competitiveness- National competitiveness- Social pact- Social pact- Wage indexation- Wage indexation- Low female participation rate- Low female participation rate- Working Time Directive- Working Time Directive

Important point in the near future:Important point in the near future:Possible merger with the Maltese Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise COCEPossible merger with the Maltese Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise COCE

THE MALTESE SIDE / 2THE MALTESE SIDE / 2

 

Federation of Master Builders (FMB) - founded in 1941

13,000 members - the largest employers' body in UK’s construction sector FMB’s main services to members: - Help-lines (for health & safety; taxation; legal matters) - Training workshops- Access to warranty scheme and insurance services- Access to quality marks

Very peculiar and interesting for the FOIwww.findabuilder.co.uk – website service to find the best and closest builder

Information:MasterBuilder magazine E-mail news bulletins

THE UK SIDE / 1

THE UK SIDE / 2

NO sectoral social dialogue committee in the UK.

Building & Allied Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) – created by FMB and trade union It sets wage rates on annual basis Voluntary process - no government intervention Company CAN apply or not the wage agreements

Skills and Training high on the social agenda of the FMB

Best solution is APPRENTICESHIP BUT 4% of the 185,000 construction companies employ an apprenticeSeveral problems prevent companies from employing apprentices:• No insurance for under 18s on sites:• Stigma of vocational training• Costs of training - £12,000 pa and only £2,250 max grant• ‘Lose the boy’ – employers lose their younger workers, after training them

Cross Industry Construction Apprenticeships Task Force: 10,000 apprentices moreAction supported by UK Government and ConstructionSkills

 

Capacity Building: - First occasion for fruitful exchange of best practices on services provided to builders- FOBC: first and only sectoral association in the construction sector in Malta- Created in 2000 but seems to be active since it joined the FOI in 2004- Several issues and problems concerning the construction sector were discussed:

1. Health and safety2. Vocational training3. Registration of enterprises4. Lack of skilled labour5. Construction and demolition waste

Social dialogue:- Well chosen partnership: historical links and similarities - Sectoral collective agreements are very rare and concern mainly port industry- No specific agreement for the construction sector has been concluded until now

SEMINAR EVALUATION

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention !attention !

Riccardo VIAGGIProject Manager

riccardo.viaggi@eubuilders.org

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