Asociación Mundus was invited to participate in the 3rd National Technical Forum for the building and construction sector, held on 22 and 23 June in Casablanca, under the THAMM+ programme, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization.
Beatrice Bellet, director of Asociación Mundus, attended the event, joining Moroccan and European institutions, vocational training providers, public employment services, sector federations, companies and international cooperation actors.
The Forum focused on a key question: how to build a Talent Partnership between Morocco and the European Union in the construction sector, based on skills, safe and regular mobility, decent work and mutual benefit.
The discussions highlighted major shared challenges. In Europe, the construction sector is facing a structural shortage of qualified workers, driven by an ageing workforce, low attractiveness of construction occupations and the growing demands of the green and digital transitions. In Morocco, the sector is expanding rapidly, supported by major public investments, infrastructure projects, housing programmes and international events, while also facing challenges linked to qualification, certification, recognition of skills and informality.
One of the main messages of the Forum was that mobility should not be understood as a simple movement of workers from one country to another. It must be part of a broader skills partnership. To be truly beneficial, mobility pathways need to include labour market needs analysis, adapted training, certification, recognition of professional experience, language and technical preparation, pre-departure and post-arrival support, integration in the host country and opportunities for return or employment in Morocco.
The sessions also underlined the importance of several shortage profiles, including electricians, welders, masons, formwork workers, steel fixers, energy efficiency technicians, renewable energy-related installers, BIM profiles, site supervisors and middle management roles. These profiles increasingly require additional skills in occupational safety and health, languages, digital tools, sustainable construction, energy efficiency and adaptation to European work environments.
Another key topic was the recognition and portability of skills. Participants discussed tools such as recognition of prior learning, comparison of qualification frameworks, the use of ESCO, skills passports, double certification and stronger cooperation between Moroccan and European VET centres.
For Mundus, this participation was particularly valuable. The knowledge shared during the Forum has directly helped us strengthen the design and presentation of a future circular migration project between Morocco and Spain in the construction sector, currently being prepared by our organisation. The event provided essential inputs to refine the project logic: responding to real labour market needs, strengthening training capacities in Morocco, involving the private sector, ensuring decent working conditions and designing safe, supported and useful mobility pathways for all parties involved.
Mundus would like to thank the organisers for the invitation and for creating this important space for technical dialogue. We remain committed to international mobility based on skills, cooperation between training systems, quality employment and shared opportunities between Morocco and Europe.
