The job of bricklayer is very hard because it requires enormous physical effort and, according to the workers themselves, the salary is low. As an example, Cristian’s statements, for whom a bricklayer should charge a salary of 2,800 euros per month. But he is not the only one who thinks that way and in the YouTube podcast ‘Trades Sector‘, Eduardo Roldán (46 years old) has explained that one of the main problems facing the sector is the lack of labor. “There are no people and the people who are there want to earn more than you earn without knowing.”
During the presentation, he points out that he has been contributing to Social Security for 30 years and that there is a “clash of expectations” between young people who are interested in entering the construction sector. In this sense, he has highlighted what he thinks of those who apply for a job offer as a bricklayer. “I’m not in favor of coming in and saying ‘I want to win that much’. Try me for a month and pay me whatever you think is appropriate.”
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The salary would not be a problem because in your case, you would be willing to pay high salaries to those who deserve it thanks to their skills and professionalism. “I think it’s great that you ask me for 2,500 or 3,000 euros, but show it to me.”
The story of this veteran bricklayer began with his father “at 13 or 14 years old” and he has built everything from bathrooms to industrial warehouses. The bricklayer’s trade has changed and has now become a versatile job. “You have to know everything… plumbing, locksmithing… you are going to change a bathtub for a shower tray, because you have to install water connections, for that you don’t need to call a plumber”.
In the conversation with the presenter, he points out that there is a shortage of officers “from the old days” to whom “you gave a mobile phone, the keys to the van and a piece of work, and they did it all.” Part of the problem is due to what the new generations ask for since the job of bricklayer requires great physical demand. “At 46 years old my knees are bruised, construction destroys you.”
“If you are a good bricklayer, you will earn a lot of money”
Although the physical and schedule demands are many, Eduardo points out that “when you are a good bricklayer, you can earn a lot of money because you will never lack work” although he later assures that “you are not going to get rich, no one gets rich by working.”
Regarding the arrival of young people in the masonry sector, it aims to improve communication. “Social networks encourage, but that’s where you see the beauty. This job is also digging ditches by hand.” For this reason, it is encouraged to launch a proposal for incentives that bring new workers to the site. One of these is to “lower the retirement age for those who can prove 30 years or more in construction or propose 15 more days of vacation.”
“You would have to collect the budget, about 80 or 100 euros and then deduct it from the total”
A worker’s time is money, and in this sense, Eduardo demands that the estimates made to the client be charged. “A minimum of 80 or 100 euros that, when accepted, is deducted from the total.” In addition to the fact that it represents extra work for the bricklayer, it is justified by the abuse of chain requests. “There are people who are asking for five, seven or even 10 budgets.”
That is why a problem arises that is increasingly common in the sector: irregular practices. “Masons appear under the stones, I know of works where they have asked for an advance, they have brought material and they have disappeared.”
“I don’t ask for advances, just that they tell me the date.” And regarding the relationship with the client, he highlights the importance of always going with the truth first: “before entering a job I always explain, that there will be dust no matter how well you cover it.” Trust, he highlights, is something that is gained over the years “there are clients who leave me the keys to their house.”
And, to finish, they ask him what advice he would give to his younger self. “I would tell him to study,” although he clarifies that “arriving at a piece of land ten months later and seeing a house made by your own hands… cannot be explained.”