Ellen Hoeijenbos

Trade Union Official EU Affairs at FNV Bouwen & Wonen | Netherlands

Ellen Hoeijenbos fights for two things: workers’ rights and a just transition. It’s actually two objectives rolled into one: the transition and associated policies will always affect workers. The discussion about a sustainable built environment is not only about materials but much more on an inclusive society and how to build it. It is Ellen’s job to make the creative and innovative thinkers, decision-makers, and policy writers work together by raising awareness of the position of workers to mitigate the potential negative impact that the transition may have on their jobs. But she also promotes the worker as an agent of change. With specific focus on Netherlands – but likely relatable elsewhere – she continuously spread the message that decent and sustainable jobs are a prerequisite to circularity (and the energy transition in general) in the built environment, which itself can boost the social market economy. At an EU level, Ellen represents construction workers, talks to (EU)MPs, and contributes to joint employer/employee projects within the construction sector (i.e. Future of Work. She also defends workers and labour migrants’ rights in the subcontracting chain, promotes the EU and national level campaign #limitsubcontracting, and coordinates EU and international work within the construction sector.