Fundación Laboral de la Construcción took part in the transnational meeting of the ‘Welcome Work’ project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, which took place from 5 to 6 June in Leitrim, Ireland. The aim of the meeting was to coordinate the next steps to foster the inclusion of refugees in the construction sector.

During the meeting, the focus of the ‘Online Training Programme’ aimed at facilitating the labour integration as well as the linguistic and cultural adaptation of refugees was discussed. This tool will include important topics such as basic knowledge of their labour rights, employment opportunities in the construction sector, recognition and accreditation of their competences, training and development of new skills, job search and preparation for selection processes, the understanding of the language used in the sector, as well as key aspects about working and living in their new country.

Results and resources now available

Among the achievements to date, the ‘Welcome Work Starter Kit’ was presented, which is a free digital resource developed to support the integration of refugees in construction. This material offers practical tools, real-life examples and guidance for vocational training centres.

Secondly, another of the results was shared, the ‘Compendium of good practices’, aimed at companies in the sector. This resource includes articles, good practices from the countries participating in the initiative and a step-by-step guide to facilitate the process of labour inclusion in the sector.

A European initiative to address two key challenges

The ‘Welcome Work’ project, coordinated by Career Plus from Poland, brings together six organisations from five European countries, specifically: Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland and Poland. The consortium has until March 2026 to boost the inclusion of refugees in construction, a sector currently facing a shortage of skilled labour.

‘Welcome Work' arises to address a double challenge. On the one hand, the challenge faced by European countries due to the large refugee influx caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On the other hand, the need for skilled professionals in the European construction sector.

To address these challenges, this European initiative aims to facilitate the access of refugees to the sector. It also aims to train future construction professionals to foster inclusive work environments.

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System. Neither the European Union nor the granting entity can be held responsible for them.