Respect for people
The European ceramic tile manufacturing industry accounts for over 48,000 direct jobs and it is estimated that for every direct job, three to four indirect and induced jobs are created.
This industry operates under strict labour regulations established by the European Union, which guarantee fair working conditions and health and safety, as well as promoting gender equality and non-discrimination.
Labour regulations
All EU countries have their own regulatory framework aligned with EU labour laws, meaning that the industry has regulations such as the worker’s statutes in Spain (Estatuto de los Trabajadores) which govern fundamental aspects of employment:
Contracts, working time, leave, holidays, grounds for suspension or termination of contracts and union rights.
Furthermore, sectoral collective bargaining agreements negotiated between companies and unions set the salaries, specific working time and other conditions specifically applicable to the industry. Other laws such as the Social Security Law also guarantee rights such as disability or retirement benefits, and there are additional regulations covering specific labour situations.
Occupational risk prevention
The European ceramics industry strictly follows the rules imposed by the European Union, assessing and mitigating possible risks to employees. In Spain, the Occupational Risk Prevention Law and other regulations ensure high safety standards, supervised by the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate. Some of the most widespread measures in the industry for protecting the health and safety of its employees are:
The mandatory use of PPE (personal protection equipment) such as safety boots, heat- and cut-resistant gloves, earplugs, and masks.
Physical protection elements such as safety barriers.
Technological protection elements such as photocells or laser sensors.
High level of technification and task automation
Looking after and facilitating the activities of workers is one of the main priorities of the industry. Which is why it shows a constant commitment to innovation, adapting production processes and implementing new automation and digitalisation technologies to significantly reduce physical exertion, meaning workers are fundamentally engaged in control and supervision tasks.
Specific ongoing training
There is an extensive high-level training ecosystem for professionals who want to specialise in the industry. This includes university studies specialising in areas such as chemical engineering, industrial engineering, design and commerce, as well as vocational training courses aimed at better educating the professionals of the future. Ceramic clusters such as the Spanish, benefits from technology institutions such as the ITC (Ceramics Technology Institute) which promote innovation and knowledge transfer among companies in the industry.
