We are FCC - Nº15

R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y 38 R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y The Andalusian cement sector renews its agreement to guarantee a sustainable activity in Andalusia The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, presided over the signing ceremony The President of the Andalusian Government, Juan Manuel Moreno, presided over the signing ceremony of the 6th Agreement for the ener- gy recovery and sustainability of the Andalusian cement industry on 18 September. This agreement, signed between the Andalusian cement employers’ association Afca - which includes the cement companies operating in Andalusia: Cementos Cosmos (Vo- torantim Group); Cementos Portland Valderrivas Group; FYM-Heidelberg Cement Group; Cemex and Lafar- geHolcim - and the trade unions CC. OO. Construcción y Servicios de Andalucía and UGT Fica Anda- lucía, set the basis for guaranteeing a cement manufacturing activity that is sustainable over time, respectful of the environment and committed to the safety of all people. The agreement reflects the will of the parties to give continuity to the Fundación Laboral Andaluza del Cemento y el Medio Ambiente (Fla- cema), a tool of the sector participa- ted by employers and unions, which is responsible for ensuring the sus- tainability of the cement activity in Andalusia and providing transpa- rent and fluid communication with all stakeholders. This foundation, a pioneer in Europe and now in its 17th year, is also responsible for providing training to employees in the sector and developing activities that guarantee the health and safety of people in all cement factories in Andalusia. Likewise, the objectives of continuous environmental impro- vement are set in the cement facto- ries beyond strict compliance with the law. On the other hand, the cement in- dustry commits itself to carry out a sector report to assess the impact of the cement activity on the envi- ronmental health, according to the content of the guide published by the Consejería de Salud y Familias de la Junta de Andalucía (Depart- ment of Health and Families of the Andalusian Government). This re- port aims to provide the sector, or- ganizations, public institutions and interest groups in general, with an instrument for a greater knowledge and transparency of the sector’s ac- tivities and their impact on society. Basis for material and energy recovery The agreement signed lays the foundations for the material and energy recovery of the Andalusian cement industry, with requirements that go beyond what is set by cu- rrent legislation. The recovery is a process, expressly supported by the EU as one of the Best Available Techniques (BATs), by which during the process of cement manufacture, certain raw materials and / or fuels are replaced by waste that could not be recycled or reused, all carried out with all guarantees for the health of people and environmental respect. The presidents of Afca and Flace- ma, Isidoro Miranda and Pedro Ca- rranza, respectively, expressed the importance of valorisation at this time to provide competitiveness to the sector, ensure exports to third countries and thus guarantee the continuity of industrial activity in An- dalusia. The vice-presidents of Flacema, José Miguel Sánchez Cano (CC. OO. Construction and Services) and Manuel Jiménez (UGT Fica-A), were in favour of the valorisation -which in the Andalusian factories is carried out with self-imposed limits above what the current legislation establishes-, not only because of its environmental advantages, but also because business competiti- veness is usually synonymous with maintaining quality employment. It should be noted that the agreement also regulates the figure of the Envi - ronmental Delegates, appointed by the trade unions, who represent the workers in the factories in all envi- ronmental issues and actions. The event was closed by the Pre- sident of the Andalusian Regional Government, who highlighted the importance of this type of sectoral agreements between employers and unions, which are in line with the tripartite agreements - the Re- gional Government, employers and unions - that exist in Andalusia. Juanma Moreno reiterated the con- cern of the Regional Government of Andalusia and its entire govern- ment to improve employment data in our community: “Any agreement that is in line with the one signed by the cement sector, which seeks to give continuity and sustainability to industrial activity, has our full su- pport. From the Andalusian Govern- ment we encourage employers and unions to continue working in this line of collaboration and unders- tanding, to contribute to industrial development, improving unemploy- ment data and generating value in Andalusia,” he said.