Sectoral social dialogue - Woodworking
Social partners
Workers' organisations | Employers' organisations |
European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) | European Confederation of woodworking industries (CEI-Bois) |
Social dialogue in this sector covers activities defined by NACE (Rev. 2) code 16:
- sawmilling
- manufacture of wood, cork, straw & plaiting products (except furniture).
It excludes forestry and logging.
EU-wide, the woodworking sector employs just over 1 m people (Eurostat, 2014, Labour Force Survey data), in nearly 180 000 firms (Eurostat, Business Statistics 2013).
The sector's competitive strengths include:
- the strong technology, know-how and skills base
- proximity & access to one of the world’s largest markets
- rising labour productivity, largely due to increased use of automation & information technology.
Challenges include:
- expanding the use of wood, although other materials are increasingly being used instead,
- competitive weaknesses arising from the limited awareness of the properties and opportunities of wood in the EU,
- high factor costs, causing low profitability.
Key areas
The Committee is currently focusing on:
- industry policy, including innovative actions, demographic changes & sustainable development
- vocational education & training
- health & safety
- environmental policy.
Activities & meetings
Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.
Achievements/Joint texts
Check the social dialogue texts database