New agreement signed for building sector

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In May 2004, a new sectoral collective agreement was signed for the Italian building sector, which employs around 1.2 million workers. As well as providing for a pay increase of EUR 90 a month, the agreement covers matters such as training, health and safety and joint action to combat undeclared labour.

A new national sectoral collective agreement (IT0002143N) for the building sector was signed on 20 May 2004, after four months of negotiations. On the trade union side, the accord was signed by Fillea, Filca and Feneal, the sectoral organisations affiliated to the General Confederation of Italian Workers (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, Cgil), the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions (Confederazione Italiana Sindacato Lavoratori, Cisl) and the Union of Italian Workers (Unione Italiana del Lavoro, Uil) respectively. The employer-side signatory was the National Construction Association (Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili, Ance) employers' organisation, which is affiliated to Confindustria. The building sector employs around 1.2 million workers, of whom about 180,000 are non-EU citizens.

In April 2004, social security institutes and the social partners in the building sector signed an agreement providing for the certification of companies' correct payment of social security contributions. This certificate, which will be obligatory for all companies wanting to take part in public and private tenders for building work, aims to combat irregular and undeclared employment (IT0405101N). This deal marked an important step forward in the fight against undeclared labour in the building sector, and the new national collective agreement contributes to implementing it by giving joint union-employer bodies an important role in this area. These bodies include the Special Construction Workers' Funds (Casse Edile) (IT9901195N) 'construction workers' schools' (Scuole Edili) and joint committees for health and safety and the prevention of accidents at work (Comitati paritetici per la prevenzione infortuni, igiene e sicurezza sul lavoro).

As laid down in the accord on undeclared labour, these joint bodies will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring all actions aimed at eradicating undeclared labour. A joint technical committee will be established to examine and draw up - before 31 December 2004 - the relevant rules and operational procedures of the joint bodies in order to develop a national regulation for all of them. The new collective agreement also defines in detail the role of the Special Construction Workers' Funds which, on the basis of the undeclared labour accord, will be responsible for certifying companies.

Outside the area of undeclared work, the new sectoral collective agreement provides for the creation of two other national joint committees. The first will redefine, before the end of 2004, the building sector's occupational profiles and job classification system, including profiles for new jobs (such as restorers and archaeologists). The second committee will analyse in depth supplementary health and care services.

Other issues covered by the new agreement include the following.

• As regards vocational training, the existing joint system of 'construction workers' schools' is given new educational objectives. The partners intend to turn the schools into a genuine national training agency managed by the sectoral vocational training fund ( Formedil ).
• The current two-tier bargaining structure (sectoral and company/local) is confirmed and a new procedure is introduced for consultation and dialogue to be applied in the case of building works projects which affect more than one province (major public infrastructure works in particular). This concertation procedure should lead to the conclusion of agreements on various matters relating to these projects - logistical services, health and safety, working time and relations with joint safety bodies.
• The number of hours of training provided for health and safety workers' representatives is increased, while strict controls are introduced over the application of local agreements in order to define uniform health and safety criteria at national level and tackle the serious and persistent problem of fatal workplace accidents in the sector. The Special Construction Workers' Fund will in future top up occupational accident/injury benefits so as to guarantee full pay to all recipients.
• On labour market issues, the new agreement regulates the use of flexible forms of employment such as fixed-term contracts, and provides the workers involved with the same rights as other workers. In order to help match labour supply and demand, the agreement creates a form of 'labour exchange' (Borsa del Lavoro). Each construction workers' school will create a special information service that will work together with the local public employment services.
• The many non-EU workers employed in the building sector will now have the possibility of saving up paid leave and holidays to provide a longer period of leave so that they can visit their countries of origin.
• Wedding leave for blue-collar workers is increased from 12 to 15 days.
• Service-related allowances for middle managers are increased.
• Maternity allowance has been increased to 100% of normal pay during the period of obligatory maternity leave.
• New measures have been introduced on sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviour.
• Working time remains at 40 hours a week on average, with a maximum working day of 10 hours.
• Pay will be increased by EUR 90 a month, to be paid in instalments of EUR 50 from 1 May 2004 and EUR 40 from 1 March 2005.

The signatory trade unions expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, describing it as a good agreement which will allow the development of bargaining and a number of sectoral policies.