The JIB welcomes the latest report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) on Mission-Driven Industrial Relations which highlights the need to strengthen sectoral workforce agreements, to address the UK’s construction skills shortage.
The JIB collective agreement serves as a platform through which the ECA and Unite the Union negotiate and agree upon wages and the main terms and conditions of employment for electrotechnical employees. This encompasses 574 employers and more than 10,000 employees.
In line with the Prime Minister’s ambition to “get Britain building” and the government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes, we fully support the report’s call for stronger workforce standards, underpinned by sectoral collective bargaining, to ensure sustainable industry growth.
“The IPPR’s recommendations align closely with the long-standing commitment by the parties to the JIB Collective Agreement to improving employment conditions, delivering fair pay, and ensuring a skilled and competent workforce across the construction sector,” said Jay Parmar, Chief Executive of the JIB. “As the industry faces a significant labour shortfall, now is the time to reinforce collective agreements and driveup investment in skills to secure the future of UK construction.”
The IPPR report outlines key measures, including requiring publicly funded construction projects to comply with collectively agreed workforce standards and establishing a new public housebuilding negotiating body to improve skills supply and raise labour standards. The JIB believes these steps are crucial to deliver high-quality housing and infrastructure while preventing exploitative employment practices in the sector. We support the report’s call for the government to leverage procurement and regulatory mechanisms to encourage private developers to align with the same workforce standards, preventing a two-tier labour market.
“We stand ready to work with policymakers, employers, and trade unions to ensure that the principles of fair pay, safe working conditions, and robust training pathways are embedded in both public and private construction projects,” Jay Parmar added. “JIB has decades of experience in negotiating and shaping workforce agreements which benefit both employers and workers, and we look forward to contributing to this crucial policy agenda.”
Joseph Evans, Researcher, IPPR said “To build 1.5 million homes and deliver the infrastructure the country needs, the government needs to address the severe workforce shortages in the construction sector. Setting strong, industry-wide standards is the best way to develop a stronger skills pipeline in construction. This already happens through institutions like the Joint Industry Board, demonstrating that sector-level negotiation in construction can benefit both businesses and the workforce.”
The JIB urges the government to act swiftly on the report’s recommendations and will continue to engage with industry stakeholders to help shape a fairer, more sustainable construction sector.
