FEVICCOM asked the Government and employers to investigate closely the accidents at work in civil construction and to strengthen the prevention, monitoring and means of the ACT.
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15/10/2026
by
Lusa
A Portuguese Federation of Construction, Ceramics and Glass Unions (FEVICCOM) today asked the Government and bosses for rigorous investigation of accidents at work in civil construction and a strengthening of the prevention, supervision and means of ACT.
“ It is essential to investigate every accident rigorously, to determine all responsibilities and, above all, to act before the tragedies take place, reinforcing prevention, supervision, the means of the Working Conditions Authority (ACT) and the participation of workers and their representatives ", says FEVICCOM in an open letter published today.
In the letter addressed to the Government and the AICCOPN – Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industries, the federation recalls the recent accidents on the former grounds of Feira Popular, in Lisbon, and in Porto Covo, as well as the death of three workers at Quinta do Lago, in Loulé, on 12 October.
According to FEVICCOM, these accidents “reveal to demonstrate the severity of a problem” and it is therefore important to investigate whether the risks “were properly assessed, whether the working methods and protective structures were adequate”, whether the health and safety plans corresponded to the work and whether there was effective coordination, supervision, training and instruction.
“FEVICCOM refuses to treat these accidents as inevitable fatalities. The causes and responsibilities must be rigorously established ", reinforces.
The federation underlines the importance of operational strengthening of the ACT and preventive supervision, “priority to higher risk situations”.
The FEVICCOM also calls on the Government to present a public timetable for strengthening the resources of the ACT and for drawing up the sectoral plan with the participation of workers' representative organisations.
The federation recalls that the accident in construction is a problem, with 29,700 accidents at work and in 2024 30,962, which caused 41 and 39 deaths, respectively.
Among the demands is the fight against precariousness, the use of successive chains of underemployment and the false independent work, which dilute responsibilities.
Similarly, the federation points out that the growing presence of immigrant workers in the sector “also requires that training, instructions and security information be made available in languages that they understand, using interpreters or other appropriate means where necessary”.
“ Safety cannot be subcontracted and language can never be a risk factor. All workers have the same right to life, health and safety”, FEVICCOM insists.
At the same time, the trade union federation calls for the negotiation of the collective contract of work under way “to deepen rights” in matters such as safety and health at work or professional training.
According to the data from the INE regarding construction companies and published in December last year, in 2024 there were 460.4 thousand workers in this sector, distributed by 114.4 thousand companies.