Construction

The action programme is aimed to develop continued multi-stakeholder platforms of social dialogue in the construction sector. The action plan is formulated by tripartite national steering committees to guide each country's activities in accordance to national priorities in the sector. The general objectives of the action plan are: (i) to create an enabling environment for the sustainable development of the local construction industry; (ii) to improve the conditions of work in the industry; and (iii) to expand opportunities for productive employment.

The programme tests the contribution of social dialogue to improvements in the sector. The decision on specific activities to be implemented takes place at the national level, involving the Government, and representatives of workers and employers. The process in each country is distinctive from the others. The concrete activities to be implemented are also specific to each country – while related to the broad programme framework. The action programme was implemented in five pilot countries (2004-2007): Brazil, Egypt, India, Ghana and Tanzania. Concrete outputs in different countries included, inter alia:

• Functioning social dialogue;
• Preparation of Construction Standard Safety Training Guidelines for Consultants, Contractors and Construction Workers;
• OHS training activities;
• Awareness-raising campaign on OHS;
• Skills training;
• Training programmes for contractors on labour standards in construction;
• Establishment of municipal decent work programmes with a focus on construction;
• Research on training and certification in the construction industry;
• Workshop on the certification of home-builders;
• Funding for follow-up activities;
• Issues on labour in construction included in government policies and ILO’s Decent Work Country Programmes;
• Spin-off activities such as promotion of green jobs in construction.