Social dialogue in the shipbuilding industry covers activities related to NACE (Rev.2) codes 28.11, 30.11, 30.12 and 33.15, which include:
- manufacture of engines and turbines, except aircraft, vehicle and cycle engines
- building of ships and floating structures
- building of pleasure and sporting boats
- repair and maintenance of ships and boats
The sectoral social dialogue committee has been created in 2003. In 2016, the sector comprised of 150 large shipyards and 120,000 employees by EU-based shipyards (civil and naval, new building, and repair yards).
Considering the global maritime equipment industry, the sector employed more than 350,000 people and had around 22,000 enterprises (Eurofound Representativeness study, 2017).
The sector faces the following main challenge:
- the geopolitical challenges from the Asian markets – China, South Korea, and Japan – to safeguard the industry and protect jobs in Europe
- the price and availability of energy and raw materials
- the environmental transition, as emphasised in the Transition Pathway for Mobility and in a Joint Statement (2022) calling for an ambitious sectoral strategy to ensure a fair and just transition
- the attractivity of new and skilled workers, as 40% of the current workforce will retire by 2030
Workers' organisations
Employers' organisations
- European Shipyards & Maritime Equipment Association (SEA Europe)
Key areas & projects
The current work programme focuses on:
- market, employment and policy developments in shipbuilding
- industrial policy
- qualification and skills
- industry 4.0, digitalisation, green deal
- social standards
- image of the sector
Activities & meetings
Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.
Achievements/Joint texts
Check the social dialogue texts database