“The formation of the Polish Association of Construction Sector Employers, which in 2007 celebrates its 15th anniversary, was an unprecedented incident in the building circles,” says Marek Michałow-
ski, president of the PZPB. “Today, PZPB is a nation-wide organization of employers associating more than a hundred largest construction companies (around 70% of the building potential in Poland), representing interests of both the largest, as well as small and medium-size construction firms.”
Members of the Association are interested in creating systemic solutions for the whole building sector, particularly regarding streamlining the investment process, improving employment processes in construction companies (e.g. re-establishing vocational and technical schools), restoring the appropriate status of the building profession, opening the Polish building market for construction companies from outside the EU which would act as sub-contractors, valorisation of prices as a condition for the efficient execution of construction contracts, introducing the FIDIC contract procedures to the Polish investment process to regulate the investor-contractor relations. These problems have been the subject of many conferences organized by the Association, and the conclusions have been passed on to the Infrastructure Committee and Government representatives.
“In my career I have always attached much importance to the activity of local governments, especially in the building sector, seeing them as a possible way of giving the legislative and executive authorities our opinions and suggestions regarding laws needed to  streamline the whole building process, which always needed and still needs to be improved,” says Witold Zaraska, between 1992-95 president of the Economic Chamber of Building and Technical Services Exporters.
“The Building Employers Association was founded as a bottom-up initiative, following the need for actions providing security and assistance for construction firms, at that time both for newly-established companies and former state-owned firms transformed into commercial law companies,” says Edward Trzosek, between 1992-2000 president of the Management Board, Building Employers Association. “The main aim of the initiative started by a group of building firms associated in 1991 through their participation in the “Best Construciton of the Year” competition was to form a strong representation of building sector employers, an important partner of the state administration and organizations dealing with construction.”
Soon the Association was joined by many important companies, and their number amounted to over a hundred. Presidents of all the companies associated were very active and committed to the Association. The organization’s activity was quickly noticed, and its representatives started taking part in all the events of the building community. They also fought to force through regulations, to change the shape of laws, ease companies in employee leasing or employment assignment on the German market. “Our activity on the Polish construction market was also monitored by foreign employers organizations,” says Edward Trzosek. “I signed cooperation agreements with employers’ organizations from other countries, for instance Germany and Norway. These organizations invited and recommended us to be a member of the European Construction Industry Federation.”
The Building Employers Association was supported by many organizations connected with the building industry. Trade unions, scientists – especially from the Warsaw University of Technology – research institutes, labour inspectorate, Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), Members of Parliaments, many central offices employees, organizers of building conferences and exhibitions, chambers of commerce, associations, foundations, engineers’ associations, including the Polish Engineers and Building Technicians Association (PZITB) – they all actively participated in many of our initiatives, thematic studies and opinions, cyclic thematic seminars.
The Polish Association of Construction Sector Employers, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, publishes the “Polish Construction” magazine, applies to the Construction Minister to accord its members the honorary award “For Services to Construction,” for the past 10 years has organized the annual competition “Construction Employer of the Year,” and for the past 8 years has awarded the “Developer’s Certificate” currently held by 33 firms. (JB)