Industry report 2019 and 2020

Despite the increase in the use of prefab and the availability of labor-friendly tools in Construction & Infra, construction site workers still experience the work as physically demanding. As a result, the danger of early retirement remains lurking. But other developments actually offer opportunities for the sector. These were published today in the 'Industry Report 2019 and 2020'. 

 DATE July 1, 2021 

OUR REFERENCE Press release/btv1920 

CONTACT Sandra Schouten, s.schouten@volandis.nl 0341 - 499 299 

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Increase 

With increased warm or even hot summers, workers on construction sites, project sites and behind the front door are increasingly experiencing heat exposure. Resulting in heat stroke. Yet the most typical health complaints in the construction and infra sector remain musculoskeletal complaints, difficulty hearing and hand eczema. The report also shows that the number of employees reporting work-related health complaints is growing. UTA workers are especially affected by work pressure. There is too much work to be done in a short time. But work pressure is also increasing among construction site workers. 

Remarkable 

Few construction site workers report exposure to hazardous materials. This has been true for years, yet this is remarkable because in their daily work they come into contact with (quartz) dust, fumes, vapor, gas and chemicals. Possibly employees do not sufficiently recognize these substances as hazardous. Much improvement in awareness and action perspective is still possible here in order to work more safely and healthily. 

Good news 

There is good news, too. Three-quarters of construction site and UTA workers have little or no concern about becoming unemployed. They have little desire to change employers or jobs. Nor are employees afraid of losing their jobs due to technological advances. The tight labor market probably plays a role in this. Increased prefabrication provides opportunities for new entrants to the construction labor market such as people with greater distance from the labor market. 

All industry employees are generally satisfied with mutual cooperation and collegiality. It remains striking that UTA employees have more frequent performance reviews than construction site employees. 

Actions by parties 

The collective bargaining parties in Construction & Infra are closely monitoring developments. They have already initiated or announced various measures. For example, since January 1 of this year, the heavy-duty work regulation has been in effect for construction site employees who have worked in construction and infrastructure for at least 20 years and are 3 years or less before retirement. From January 1, 2022, this scheme will also be open to UTA employees who are 3 years or less before retirement and have worked in Construction & Infra for 20 years of which at least 5 years have been in a construction site job. 

€500,000 has also been made available for the expansion of the work pressure provision. This was already available to UTA employees, but is now also being offered free of charge (in pilot form) to construction site employees during the current collective bargaining period. Volandis is starting an investigation into effective measures to prevent safety risks when working in heat. Employees who work with sprayed PUR will receive a periodic health examination with lung test and urine test to measure health damage. In addition, the parties are investing €10 million in the incentive program to retain skilled workers in the sector and promote recruitment.