Construction social partners promote employment of young people and older workers
Published: 4 April 2004
On 24 March 2004, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), with the financial support of the European Commission, issued a brochure [1] designed to increase the employment of young people and older workers in the construction sector. FIEC represents construction companies of all sizes and all specialities in building and civil engineering and has 32 national member federations in 25 countries. EFBWW groups national trade unions in the building and woodworking sector, representing 2.3 million workers. The construction sector is the biggest industrial employer in Europe, with 1.9 million companies and nearly 11 million workers, and around 26 million workers in the EU depend directly or indirectly on it.[1] http://www.fiec.org/upload/5/12937967192861626818291627562977420150714096f3087v1.pdf
In March 2004, the European-level social partners in the construction sector published a joint brochure aimed at encouraging the employment of young people and older workers.
On 24 March 2004, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), with the financial support of the European Commission, issued a brochure designed to increase the employment of young people and older workers in the construction sector. FIEC represents construction companies of all sizes and all specialities in building and civil engineering and has 32 national member federations in 25 countries. EFBWW groups national trade unions in the building and woodworking sector, representing 2.3 million workers. The construction sector is the biggest industrial employer in Europe, with 1.9 million companies and nearly 11 million workers, and around 26 million workers in the EU depend directly or indirectly on it.
Currently, the high number of young people leaving either during training, or after just a few years of working in the sector, represents a serious waste of resources to the various vocational training systems that exist in the construction industry. This means that there is a correspondingly lower return on company investment in human resources. In order to meet the challenge of the sustainable integration of young people into the sector, the social partners are proposing a 'tutoring' system, whereby a preferential and structured relationship between an older and experienced worker and a young recruit, starting out in the company, is established.
The 43-page brochure sets out to assist construction companies to develop a tutoring system by providing them with the following information:
a description of the key stages to be envisaged for putting this system in place, information regarding the characteristics of a 'good' tutor and the competences they must possess as well as information on the management of a tutoring relationship;
specific examples of good tutoring practices from five EU countries - Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the UK; and
practical information sheets for the employer, the tutor and the young person.
The brochure, a training model and specific tools for the tutor are available in French, English and German in printed and electronic versions on the websites of FIEC and EFBWW.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2004), Construction social partners promote employment of young people and older workers, article.
