THE IMAGE OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE NETHERLANDS

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THE IMAGE OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE NETHERLANDS

• JOHN KERSTENS
• FNV BOUW

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ABOUT FIGURES AND FACTS

• 18.000 COMPANIES/180.00-360.000 EMPLOYEES
• PRODUCTION 53 BILLION A YEAR
• 60 MILLION A YEAR ON EDUCATION/ ON HEALTH AND
  SAFETY
• A GOOD COLLECTIVE LABOUR AGREEMENT

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ABOUT FEELINGS AND FACTS

• CONSTRUCTION IS SEEN BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS
• NOT CLIENT-ORIENTED
• A SECTOR IN WHICH YOU WORK VERY HARD FOR VERY
  LITTLE MONEY WITH A BIG CHANCE OF BEING FIRED OR
  INJURED
• NOT HIP AND SEXY

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FEELINGS BECAME FACTS

• INTRODUCING A NEW WORD IN THE DUTCH DICTIONARY
• THAT SCORES MORE THAN 23.000 HITS (AND STILL
  COUNTING) ON THE DUTCH VERSION OF GOOGLE
• AND HELPED TO WORSEN THE ALREADY NOT SO GOOD
  IMAGE OF CONSTRUCTION

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BOUWFRAUDE

• DIVIDING THE MARKET BY MAKING PROHIBITED
  PRICE-ARRANGEMENTS, IN SO COSTING SOCIETY
  MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND (ONCE FOUND OUT AND
  PROSECUTED) COSTING CONSTRUCTION WHAT WAS LEFT OF
  ITS IMAGE

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RESULTING IN

• FIERCER PRICE-COMPETITION
• LOSS OF JOBS
• MORE USE OF IRREGULAR (CHEAPER) WORKFORCE
• PRESSURE ON COLLECTIVE LABOUR AGREEMENTS
• LESS YOUNG PEOPLE WANTING TO WORK IN CONSTRUCTION

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EVERY DISADVANTAGE HAS ITS ADVANTAGE

• ENDING BOUWFRAUDE-CHAPTER
• MAKING A FRESH START
• INVESTING IN A BETTER IMAGE
• PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
• TURNING THINGS AROUND