Why construction (BTP) is under special scrutiny
The construction sector is one of the most heavily inspected by the French Labour Inspectorate (Inspection du travail) and the DREETS (Directions régionales de l'économie, de l'emploi, du travail et des solidarités). Government statistics show construction comes second, after transport, in the number of posting-rules infringements.
That's why the Loi Macron regime for BTP has an additional layer: the BTP worker identification card (Carte d'Identification Professionnelle du BTP), introduced in 2017.
When exactly do you need a representative
Short answer: almost always, if you send workers to a French construction site. The longer answer requires distinguishing several cases.
1. Classic posting of construction workers
Your Polish construction company has won a contract with a French client. You send 10 bricklayers on site for 3 months. Yes — you need a representative, SIPSI declarations and BTP cards for each worker.
2. Working as a subcontractor
Your company subcontracts to a Polish (or other European) main contractor operating in France. Yes — Loi Macron also applies to subcontractors. Every company with workers on a French construction site has its own obligations.
3. One-day audit visit
Your Polish engineer goes on site for a day to perform an expert review. Does he need a BTP card and a declaration?
- If he is performing construction-related work (supervision, technical measurements, quality audit) — yes, the SIPSI declaration is required.
- If he's only attending a commercial meeting — he isn't subject to the posting rules.
In practice, for anything that looks like technical work, it's far safer to declare in advance than to pay a €4,000 fine afterwards.
The BTP card: what it is and how to get it
The BTP card is a physical (or electronic) ID card that every worker on a French construction site must carry. It includes:
- first name, surname, photo
- employer's company name and SIRET number
- sector code and UCF-CIBTP identifier
- validity period
Applications are made through www.cartebtp.fr, operated by UCF-CIBTP. The card costs €10.80 (as of 2026) and is valid until the end of the posting (or end of the year, depending on the option chosen).
No card = €2,000 fine per worker + obligation to halt work until the situation is resolved.
BTP collective agreement: minimum wages
The Polish employer must guarantee the posted worker the minimum under the French BTP collective agreement. Rates are higher than the French SMIC and vary by:
- region (Île-de-France has the highest rates)
- classification level (Niveau I-IV, from labourer to master)
- trade (bricklayer, carpenter, electrician, etc.)
If the worker's Polish wage is lower than the French sectoral minimum, the employer must pay the difference for the time worked in France. This top-up is subject to inspection and archiving.
Most common mistakes
After more than 10 years working with construction companies, we see several recurring mistakes:
- "We'll file the SIPSI once we start work" — unacceptable. The declaration must be filed before the mission starts. Lateness = fine.
- "The BTP card is for French workers" — wrong. Everyone, including Polish posted workers, must have one.
- "My head office is in Poland, so the A1 is enough" — A1 covers social-security contributions, but doesn't waive the obligation to appoint a representative or comply with the French collective agreement.
- "It's only 3 days — it doesn't count" — even a one-day mission is concerned. There's no minimum duration threshold.
What we do for your company
As your representative in France:
- we file SIPSI declarations for each worker and each mission,
- we order BTP cards through UCF-CIBTP and forward them to the construction site,
- we prepare translations of employment contracts, internal rules and other required documents,
- we keep the document archive for the required 18 months,
- we are the first point of contact for the DREETS and the Labour Inspectorate,
- we advise on the right classification level under the collective agreement.
Remember: Loi Macron obligations for the BTP sector are particularly strict — BTP card, SIPSI declarations, collective agreement, document archiving. Every mission on a French construction site requires a complete file.
If you're planning your first (or your next) construction mission in France, contact us. We'll assess the scope of obligations free of charge and prepare a concrete quote.