Skilled concrete carpenters make a difference

Many a civil project requires the knowledge, expertise and commitment of skilled concrete carpenters. And these are becoming increasingly scarce. Not at Employ. This secondment services provider has a large team of skilled concrete carpenters who are deployed on projects throughout the Netherlands and housed in accordance with SNF standards. Strukton also makes grateful use of a team of an average of eight to twelve professionals from Employ for the Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp project. 

Strukton has been familiar with Employ's methods and people for many years. "We have been working together extremely successfully for more than fifteen years," says Oleg Grooten, operations director/co-owner at Employ. "We know each other through and through, and Strukton's (chief) executives now also know many of our people. Although we work with foreign skilled workers, we always make sure we station a foreman on a project who speaks Dutch or good English or German. And in this case is also familiar with and with Strukton's people on this project."

Migrant Workers

Despite a long-standing relationship and familiar faces back and forth, Employ did have to present itself to the Noorderzijlvest Water Board at the beginning of the project. "And that is actually quite logical," thinks Oleg. "They were curious about how we deal with migrant workers and how, among other things, remuneration, housing and compliance with the construction collective bargaining agreement is guaranteed. We gladly and lovingly explained that, which I only applaud. It is good that attention is also being paid to this subject. It also helps the Water Board on other fronts. If there are questions about this from the surrounding area, they can answer them themselves. After all, our people are housed near the project in the villages of Zuidhorn and Usquert, and also do their shopping there in the evenings and use local facilities."

Independent team

Employ holds the SNF seal of approval. "This means that our housing meets strict requirements in terms of basic facilities, safety, management, supervision and legal and administrative conditions. We also provide the necessary work clothes, tools and personal protective equipment so that our employees are well prepared to start work," Oleg explains. "In Zoutkamp, our people have been involved from the start of the project. We work here with a permanent, very independent crew. They understand their trade, and thanks to the Polish origin of our foreman, he is also able to communicate optimally with the iron braiders like no other. A win-win. It is therefore impressive what they, together with Strukton, have put in place since January."

Employ operates throughout the Netherlands. "Besides in Zoutkamp, we currently have concrete carpenters stationed at projects including the construction of the Zoutdam at sea lock IJmuiden and at the Zuidas in Amsterdam. Furthermore, we have just completed work on the self-closing dam at Steyl in Limburg and are still active on smaller projects in Groningen, Friesland, Overijssel, Brabant and Zeeland. Our skilled concrete carpenters are making a difference throughout the Netherlands," Oleg concludes.