IMPROVING TRAINING, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND TRANSFORMATION IN THE EUROPEAN SCAFFOLDING SECTOR

The scaffolding sector is still marked by arduous working conditions, the vocational training differs remarkably between European countries, forms of employment are often precarious and some more aspects are of concern for trade unions. With this project, the EFBWW deals repeatedly with the sector and more specifically with various aspects of its working conditions. The project is about finding out whether a European certificate for safety training has a chance of realisation, and if so, to take the first steps in this direction. In addition, the project will address the issues of occupational safety in general,  including standardisation, social dialogue in the scaffolding sector and the question of technological developments.

For each of the four topics it is aimed to work out  policy recommendations for the European level and for the work in the framework of Social Dialogue.

In a first step of the project, we carry out some research (country reports) on the current status of scaffolding work and its framework conditions……..

The project DIRECT II, promoted by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, is focused on trends in direct employee participation in seven EU Member States (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Poland, UK and Spain) aiming to explore the impact of direct employee participation on industrial relations on company level and to explore a number of good practice examples of enterprises in the partner countries that have successfully introduced new technologies (of whatever form) with the full co-operation of employees, through a process of direct participation.  The project seeks also to continue to explore some of the practices of direct participation, which are introduced under traditional technologies and to compare them with the practices of direct participation, which are introduced as a result of the introduction of new technologies.  The project is aiming to research if direct participation in management even in the introduction of new technologies, can improve efficiencies, productivity, better work organization and the commitment of the workforce, including opportunity for workers to suggest ideas for organisational innovation; contribute to improving workers qualifications and skills; humanise the working environment through, for example, the introduction of flexible working time; improved occupational health and safety; allow for flexibility in executing tasks, including job rotation and homeworking; as well as appropriate forms of remuneration relating to the introduction of new technologies.

Education, Employment or Training) are considered as one of the most problematic groups in the context of youth unemployment. Thus, according to Eurostat, in 2011, 7,5 million people aged between 15-24 years and 6,5 million people aged between 25 and 29 years were excluded from the labor market and education system in Europe.....

As part of a policy to promote worker mobility throughout the European Union, the EU Institutions agreed a Recommendation in 2008 to set up a European Qualifications Framework (EQF)....