Birth of a new EU agency

© Belga Image Gender equality and healthcare access How EU-funded projects implement the European Pillar of Social Rights Leading the way: the EU supports a scheme encouraging women to enter the construction industry in France, where only 2% of workers in this sector are women. Gender equality is the second of the 20 principles and rights enshrined in the European Pillar of Social Rights, which supports fair and well functioning labour markets and welfare systems in Europe (see box). In practice, the EU promotes gender equality by supporting schemes such as Habiter au Quotidien (Living on a daily basis), that encourages women in France to enter the construction industry. Indeed, only 2% of workers in this sector are women, despite efforts made by construction federations and institutions in this country. Thanks to Habiter au Quotidien , eight women are trained over nine months in the skills that are required for working on a construction site. They are supervised by a member of a French trade guild. SOCIAL RIGHTS 2 4 / SOC I A L AG E NDA / NOV E MB E R 2 0 1 9