EFBWW

14/10/2026

Today, EFBWW joined the annual ETUC European Works Councils (EWC) Conference in Brussels.

Together with our fellow European trade union federations, we presented a new joint toolbox, including a practical checklist and recommendations for trade union experts working with European Works Councils and Special Negotiating Bodies.

As EU countries update their national laws with the revised European Works Councils Directive, strong trade union coordination and support are essential to ensure workers can fully exercise the strengthened rights to information and consultation.

For EFBWW, European Works Councils are a vital tool for ensuring workers have a say in decisions that affect them across borders, and we will continue working to make the most of their potential.

14/10/2026

Time To Act | Giulia Bartoli, Fillea Cgil, Italy 🇮🇹

Across Europe, workers and trade unions are demanding action against the long subcontracting chains that allow responsibility to disappear.

The upcoming Quality Jobs Act must bring binding limits on subcontracting and help restore direct jobs in construction.

⏰ It is time to act. It is time to limit subcontracting.

13/10/2026

Time To Act | Mariano Hoya, UGT F**A, Spain 🇪🇸

Across Europe, workers and trade unions are demanding action against the long subcontracting chains that allow responsibility to disappear.

The upcoming Quality Jobs Act must bring binding limits on subcontracting and help restore direct jobs in construction.

⏰ It is time to act. It is time to limit subcontracting.

13/10/2026

Organised crime is moving into the legal economy, and Europol identifies construction as one of the sectors most vulnerable to infiltration and abuse.

Europol identified 821 of the EU’s most threatening criminal networks, involving more than 25,000 people. An extraordinary 86% use legal businesses to facilitate or conceal crime and launder profits.

Most operate across borders. And the threat keeps renewing itself: Europol’s latest assessment identified 533 newly emerging networks alongside 198 that had survived law-enforcement action.

Construction’s long subcontracting chains, labour intermediaries and mobile workforce create obvious opportunities for criminal infiltration.

This is a growing threat to mobile construction workers, responsible businesses and the rule of law. Europe must limit subcontracting chains and make companies responsible throughout the chain

12/10/2026

Time To Act | Jesmond Marshall, General Workers’ Union GWU, Malta 🇲🇹

Across Europe, workers and trade unions are demanding action against the long subcontracting chains that allow responsibility to disappear.

The upcoming Quality Jobs Act must bring binding limits on subcontracting and help restore direct jobs in construction.

⏰ It is time to act. It is time to limit subcontracting.

12/10/2026

No fewer than 460 Polish and Romanian workers were hidden through subcontracting chains at the Flamanville nuclear construction site in France.

They discovered the truth only after being injured. On paper, they were covered through the A1 social-security system, but in reality the promised protection was not in place.

The workers fought back. Supported by trade unions, they went on strike, helped expose the abuse, and challenged the fraudulent arrangements.

It took about 10 years before the main contractor was finally convicted in 2021. The fine was just 29,950 euros, while unpaid social contributions were estimated at up to 12 million euros.

In other words, breaking the rules remained profitable.

This same system is still at work across Europe. It's time to act.

10/10/2026

Trade unions must do more than resist. We must build hope.

This week, EFBWW General Secretary Tom Deleu joined the ETUC Executive Committee in Oslo.

Following the visit to Utøya and the adoption of the Utøya Statement against the far right, Tom stressed that remembrance must lead to more than opposition. Trade unions must offer a credible alternative to the far right and advance an inspiring agenda for social progress, better democracy, and quality jobs that workers can believe in.

Thank you to the organisers and all the trade union leaders who contributed to the important discussions in Norway ✊ 🇳🇴

09/10/2026

🚨 The largest settlement ever for labour exploitation in Europe!

Hundreds of migrant workers building the new US Consulate in Milan were paid less than 2 euros an hour, denied overtime and charged illegal deductions for food and accommodation.

They will now share in a settlement worth nearly 31 million euros.

Our Italian affiliates Fillea Cgil, Filca Cisl nazionale and FenealUil Nazionale stood with the workers throughout the case. Even after being denied access to the construction site, they kept pushing for trade union rights, proper wages and decent working conditions, and are now assisting workers through the settlement process.

Achieving justice for workers is what trade unions do. Well done!

https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-consulate-labor-abuse-milan-98ac9be7cb7a704d9e13a2a8d1c22b82

Foreign workers building the new U.S. consulate in Milan have signed agreements securing payouts for alleged labor abuses.

09/10/2026

Solidarity with Belgian workers and trade unions on the streets of Brussels today ✊ 🇧🇪

They are telling their government that they will not pay for another budget through lower purchasing power and weaker pensions.

EFBWW stands with Algemene Centrale - ABVV and ACVBIE - CSCBIE

09/10/2026

Time To Act | Kenneth Lund, Unionen, Sweden 🇸🇪

Across Europe, workers and trade unions are demanding action against the long subcontracting chains that allow responsibility to disappear.

The upcoming Quality Jobs Act must bring binding limits on subcontracting and help restore direct jobs in construction.

⏰ It is time to act. It is time to limit subcontracting.