UITBB General Secretary’s speech to the 114th ILC Session Plenary
Esteemed delegates,
I address this 114th Session of the International Labour Conference on behalf of the Trades Union International of Workers of the Building, Wood, and Building Materials (UITBB), representing millions of construction workers across the globe, talking about the importance of social dialogue.
Can there ever be effective social dialogue, without a strong trade union movement?
Can there ever be effective social dialogue, without the government being on the side of the workers?
It is our view that social dialogue is not just a formality or an idea which sounds good on paper. It is the basis of decent work and a fundamental mechanism for building more just societies. In the construction sector — which builds the infrastructure of our world today — honest social dialogue between governments, employers, and workers can mean the difference between life and death, dignity and exploitation.
Construction remains one of the most dangerous industries worldwide. Every year, approximately 60,000 workers lose their lives in workplace accidents — one every eight minutes. Falls, exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, heavy physical strain, and extreme weather conditions continue to claim thousands of lives and ruin countless families. These tragedies are not inevitable. They are the result of choices — choices that prioritize profit margins over human lives.
It is very well known that the rights of the workers, especially in the construction sector, are under attack worldwide, which underlines the importance of social dialogue even more. Today, collective bargaining coverage remains very low in many countries around the world. Conservative policies have weakened unions, promoted precarious and flexible forms of employment, and left millions of workers — especially migrants, women, and youth — exposed and vulnerable.
So, we need proper social dialogue. A social dialogue which, when supported by collective bargaining, when trade unions are present and collective agreements are respected, leads to improved safety standards, higher wages and more humane working conditions.
Governments have a decisive and irreplaceable role to play in this situation. They must be on the side of the workers which are the ones who need protection. This means the following:
- Fully implementing and enforcing ILO conventions and recommendations on social dialogue, freedom of joining trade unions, and collective bargaining.
- Strengthening labour inspections.
- Implementing labour laws to the full regarding the right to organize, collective bargaining, heavy fines for collective agreements violations etc.
- Including the full cost of health and safety measures in project budgets, and imposing serious penalties on employers who neglect them.
Esteemed delegates,
Construction workers build the future. They deserve to return home safely every evening, to earn living wages, and to have their collective voice respected in deciding their working conditions.
Social dialogue without governmental commitment to workers’ rights, is just for show, which deepens inequalities and imbalances between capital and labour. Only when governments protect the vulnerable, can social dialogue deliver real progress toward decent work, reduced inequality, and sustainable development.
For UITBB, the choice before us is clear: either we strengthen social dialogue and the regulatory role of the state in favour of workers, or we continue down a path that deepens exploitation.
Thank you.