2015-16 sectoral agreement signed for the construction sector

On 19 November 2015, the social partners within the Joint Committee for the Construction Industry (PC 124 - blue-collar workers) signed the sectoral agreement for 2015-16. This new agreement has a two-year period of validity and expires on 31 December 2016.

Below we review the most important points of the agreement.

1. Wages and working conditions

As of 1 January 2016, the minimum wages of the blue-collar workers in the construction sector are being increased by 0.50 percent. In addition, they are entitled to 100.00 euros in eco vouchers (in the event of a complete reference period) or to another equivalent benefit.

In addition, the method for calculating the travel reimbursements is being adapted. Henceforth Google Maps will be used to measure distances, and the route actually used will be taken as the starting point.

2. No social elections – union delegation

The unions have declared their agreement not to submit any candidate lists for the 2016 social elections (see our earlier newsflash in this connection). 

In addition, there are a number of changes relating to the functioning of the union delegation, which implements the assignments of the works council and the workplace prevention and protection committee:

• More effective mandates in large companies (> fifty employees);
• More hours (“credited hours”) that may be devoted to union tasks in large companies (> fifty employees);
• Expansion of job responsibilities, including the right to be informed in writing about forms of subcontracting.

3. Outplacement and training

Taking into account the decision of the Constitutional Court of 17 September 2015 (see our newsflash of 18 September 2015), all construction workers with an advance notice period of at least 30 weeks will be entitled to outplacement as of 1 January 2018. The board of directors of the Fund for Professional Training will prepare the necessary proposals within this framework. Moreover, within the context of the unified status of blue-collar and white-collar employees, a working group is also being created to discuss a common job classification.

The agreement further provides for an adaptation of the winter training. The additional and supplementary unemployment benefit for blue-collar workers who receive training in the winter period is raised from 36.00 euros to 40.00 euros per day of training.

For more information on this topic, you can consult Sébastien van Damme (author) and Sara Cockx (author and department head).