Social identity cards in construction (SIDE-CIC)

The “Social Identity Cards in Construction” (SIDE-CIC) project, co-funded by the European Commission through the Social Dialogue Programme and led by EU social partners FIEC and EFBWW, explores the role of social ID cards in the construction sector. These cards aim to enhance enforcement of EU regulations, promote transparency for workers, employers, and labour authorities, and support fair and equitable labour mobility within the sector. This initiative was developed in response to the introduction of diverse sector-specific social ID card schemes across Europe at national, regional, and local levels. Each scheme is designed with unique characteristics and functions to address key challenges in the construction sector, such as the complexities of subcontracting and the prevalence of undeclared work, which are further intensified by the growing fragmentation of the industry and the increasing mobility of its workforce.

In September 2023, AEIP was awarded a tender by EFBWW and FIEC to serve as Coordinating Expert for the project. This role encompasses overseeing project coordination and communication, while also providing strategic guidance to key stakeholders. Additionally, AEIP was tasked with producing a mapping of existing social ID cards in the EU construction sector.

Mapping report of social ID Cards in the Construction Sector Across the European Economic Area

This report, prepared by the European Association of Paritarian Institutions (AEIP) in collaboration with its Italian member, the Commissione Nazionale Paritetica per le Casse Edili (CNCE), offers an in-depth analysis of social identity cards in the construction sector across the European Economic Area. It highlights their role in enforcing labour, social security, and tax regulations, promoting transparency, and supporting fair labour mobility. The report examines the rationale behind their adoption in Member States, their legal frameworks, technical functionalities, and approaches to data management.

The study includes 18 country reports, providing a solid basis for the next project phase, which will focus on exploring interoperability options and contributing to potential governance frameworks for sectoral social ID cards in the European Economic Area.

The mapping was finalised in November 2024 and is available HERE, together with an Executive Summary.