Intervention by Michalis Papanikolaou,
UITBB General Secretary,
at 113th ILC – Geneva, Switzerland,
Wednesday, 04-06-2025
Esteemed delegates,
I address you today on the issue of Decent Work, on behalf of the Trades Union International of Workers of the Building, Wood, and Building Materials (UITBB), representing millions of construction workers worldwide.
Decent work is not an abstract concept. It is a fundamental human right. It means work that provides fair wages, safe working conditions, protection, and the fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively. For construction workers, it means returning home safely to their families every day, earning wages that sustain dignified living, and having their voices heard in workplace decisions.
Today, workers across the globe face difficult challenges. In construction sites all around the world, working conditions are worsening. Wages are cut, living costs are getting higher, flexible work is in fashion, while job insecurity is in the rise. Millions work without protection from collective agreements and without hope for a better tomorrow.
Our sector, which builds the infrastructure of civilization, has some of the most precarious employment conditions and relationships. Migrant workers face exploitation, women workers deal with systemic discrimination, and young workers enter a labour market with little security or prospects for the future.
These conditions are the direct result of deliberate policy choices by employers. Neoliberal policies systematically attack workers’ rights under the false promise of economic efficiency. Make no mistake – this problem has become a global epidemic. Companies exploit workers, creating a vicious cycle that undermines decent work everywhere. Collective bargaining is under attack, as in most of the countries, very few workers are covered by collective agreements. This represents a fundamental assault on workers’ democratic rights and their ability to negotiate fair terms of employment.
Without collective bargaining, there is a decline in unionization, which is directly related with rising inequality and worsening working conditions.
At the same time, employers increasingly view health and safety as costs to be minimized rather than investments. Every year, over 60,000 construction workers die in workplace accidents globally—one every eight minutes. But behind each statistic is a destroyed family and children that will not see their parent again.
Even in countries historically known for strong labour protections, we see a systematic destruction of worker rights, with low job security, reduced social benefits, and limited collective bargaining and protection.
This is not what we call decent work.
The path to Decent Work requires decisive action on multiple fronts. First, ILO guidelines and conventions must be fully implemented and enforced. These are not suggestions—they are international commitments that demand respect. For these guidelines and conventions to truly help the workers, we need the Workers’ Group to be a democratic and representative body for all the Trade Union currents. UITBB calls upon everyone to work for a truly fair ILO, without a monopoly in the workers’ representation.
Second, we need strong labour legislation that protects workers rather than profits. Laws must guarantee the right to organize, ensure living wages, and establish comprehensive social protection systems.
Third, governments must step up to their responsibilities and help the workers rather than the employers. Labor inspections must be strengthened and properly funded. Governments should honour their responsibility to regulate labour markets, rather than allowing employers to pursue profit at the workers’ expense.
UITBB calls upon everyone to recognize that Decent Work is not a luxury but a necessity. It is not a cost but an investment in human dignity and sustainable development. If humanity wants to regain hope, the choice is clear: it cannot continue down the path of exploitation and inequality, but it must choose the road to Decent Work for all.
Thank you.