Working rule agreement
Civil Engineering Procedure, 7th Edition, published by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) defines a working rule agreement (WRA) as:
| Terms of employment agreed between one or more trade unions and representatives of the employers of the members of those unions. |
WRA’s provide a guide to acceptable terms and conditions for employers and workers.
The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) Working Rule Agreement is the largest such agreement in the construction industry and covers more than 500,000 workers. All 500,000 workers are covered by the minimum pay rates set out in the agreement and most are covered by the whole agreement, which includes, amongst other things, travel and fare rates.
Such agreements can help avoid industrial disputes, and simplify the process of negotiating terms between a very large number of disparate employers and workers. In addition, expenses such as travel and accommodation costs, paid to workers in accordance with a WRA, do not count as income for tax purposes.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.