FAQs

To minimize the risk of congestion in the vicinity of both the CEA-Cadarache and ITER sites, the following measures will be important: strengthening the public transport network, carpooling, and staggering the arrival and departure times for ITER site workers. Infrastructure modifications are also underway at the highway exit to facilitate traffic.

No, it's not. The workers on the ITER construction site are protected by French law, which provides that all companies operating in France, whatever their "nationality," are subjected to French labour regulations and more specifically the regulatory minimum salary.

In addition, in accordance with the ITER Agreement the ITER Organization observes applicable French laws and regulations concerning public and occupational health and safety (see the next question for more information on the ITER Organization's legal status). On-site inspections by the competent authorities are regularly performed on the ITER worksite, just as they are for all large construction projects in France. 

Concerning the housing of workers who do not live locally, the construction companies operating on the ITER site have a contractual obligation to provide it. The quality of all housing solutions must strictly comply with French regulations.

Like the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund, CERN, or Interpol, the ITER Organization is an international organization created by international treaty (the ITER Agreement was signed by the seven ITER Members on 21 November 2006 in Paris). As such, it benefits from a specific legal status recognized by international law that confers certain rights to the ITER Organization; for example, the inviolability of its site, its goods, and its official documents.

In certain domains, the ITER Organization must observe French laws and regulations. Article 14 of the ITER Agreement provides that the ITER Organization shall observe the applicable laws and regulations of the Host state (France) in the following fields:

• public and occupational health and safety;
• nuclear safety;
• radiation protection;
• licensing;
• nuclear substances;
• environmental protection;
• protection from acts of malevolence

The Headquarters Agreement signed between France and the ITER Organization on 7 November 2007 further provides that the Director-General of the ITER Organization shall cooperate with French authorities to establish framework programs of inspections and controls in accordance with French laws and regulations to be observed in the domains listed above.

In parallel, French law applies to companies involved in ITER construction and to their employees. At this level, there is no difference between the ITER Project and any other construction project in France.

As explained in the preceding questions, French law protects the on-site construction workers. Irrespective of the nationality of the company that has been awarded a contract or the nationality of the workers, French labour regulations and collective agreements per branch ("conventions collectives") apply. In 2011, the French government drafted guidelines detailing the full set of obligations and responsibilities of a foreign construction company participating in the ITER Project including, for example, pay scales per branch and per level of qualification. The application of these rules is strictly controlled by the French authorities. All subcontractors working on the ITER site, whether for the ITER Organization or one of the Domestic Agencies, have a copy of these guidelines.

Staff employed directly by the ITER Organization (approximately 1,200 people) is hired under the specific regime of an international organization and benefits from the status of international civil servant. Other employees (contractors, temporary agents ...) who work in the office buildings fall under the regime of French work codes and regulations.

​As Host Member to the ITER Project, Europe has the responsibility to build nearly all of the 39 buildings and technical areas of the ITER platform. The Domestic Agency for Europe (Fusion for Energy) has thus been charged with managing the tender offers for the building projects entrusted to Europe and awarding the related contracts (principally to European companies).

Fusion for Energy has put into place a rigorous qualification process for companies. Companies must prove:

• conformity with laws and regulations and contractual requirements at an administrative level (up-to-date insurance policies and social contributions);
• conformity with laws and regulations and contractual requirements in terms of security (companies must submit valid security and occupational health policies);
• technical conformity (the contractor must prove that it has the technical capacity to carry out the work demanded).

Meeting these conditions is a requirement for any company hoping to be awarded a construction contract with Fusion for Energy. Fusion for Energy can exercise its right of audit at any time during the execution of contractual works.

According to the European Domestic Agency construction contracts, a maximum of two tiers of subcontracting is permitted. As a result, no part of the contracted works may be subcontracted to a third tier unless otherwise approved by Fusion for Energy. Compliance with this clause is closely monitored and up to now this requirement has been complied with strictly.

The construction of the ITER facility is estimated at 18 million person hours. The number of workers involved in site construction peaked in 2017-2018 at approximately 2,000 people according to the European Domestic Agency, which is responsible for the construction of all buildings and technical infrastructure. 

In parallel, a large workforce is now contributing to machine and plant assembly and installation operations. An estimated 5,000 people are regularly present on the worksite, including management, engineering and supervisory teams from the ITER Organization, the European Domestic Agency, and their contractors. (Another 1,600 people are directly attached to the ITER Organization as staff, ITER Project Associates or interim personnel.)

According to recent statistics (October 2022), some 90 countries are represented on the ITER worksite. Europe is heavily represented and, within Europe, France as host (3,885 people). Italians come second (421), followed by Spaniards (335), Indians (254), Chinese (214), Portuguese (165) and Romanians (119). (See a full breakdown in this recent article from the ITER Newsline.) In the coming years, personnel will also be required for test activities, preservation and maintenance, and systems operations.

Certainly not. As stated above, contractors and subcontractors on the ITER site must comply with French law. All workers on the ITER site are paid at least the French minimum wage. In case of infringement, the incriminated company would immediately be denied approval. For part time work, workers are paid a pro-rata percentage of the legal full-time wage, in accordance with the number of hours worked.

The modalities of collaboration between the ITER Organization and the French labour inspectorate were defined in the Headquarters Agreement signed between the French government and the ITER Organization, as well as in an additional protocol relating to on-site labour inspections concerning occupational health and safety. The French labour inspectorate can carry out unplanned inspections, as foreseen in Article 3 of the Headquarters Agreement and in the annual program of inspections. The ITER Organization has provided the labour inspectorate with a permanent access badge.

In addition, on 1 February 2013 the ITER Organization signed a partnership arrangement with the French social security agency URSSAF PACA. By doing so, the ITER Organization has committed to facilitating that agency's mission of prevention—through information, education and inspection—of illegal labour practices on the ITER construction site. URSSAF PACA organizes information/training sessions on labour laws and regulations for all companies involved in ITER construction and inspections will be carried out on a regular basis.

The ITER Organization is working in full collaboration with URSSAF in line with the access rules applicable on the ITER site. The ITER Organization is informed in advance of planned URSSAF inspections to prepare the access but this does not mean that contractors are informed. It is in the interest of the ITER Organization and of the project as a whole that the French authorities implement the necessary on-site control of working conditions.

European Domestic Agency construction contracts are based on FIDIC conditions—an international standards organization for the construction industry. Contractors are entitled to an advance payment in the range of 10% of the contract price. A schedule of payments is attached to the contract which specifies the further instalments to be paid to the contractor and the conditions for payment.

Each contractor submits its estimates monthly to the Engineer in charge of the management of the construction site. This estimate presents the detail of the amounts considered owed and supporting documents proving work progress. The Engineer certifies the amounts owed in relation to work performed and issues a payment certificate that is used by the contractor to submit its invoice to the European Domestic Agency (Fusion for Energy). The Engineer can withhold the payment certificate in a few cases only, each related to the breach of the contractor's specified obligations under the contract.

According to the terms of the contract, Fusion for Energy pays the stated amount after receipt of the contractor's invoice (usually within 45 days). In the event of delayed payment, the contractor is entitled to late payment interest. Furthermore, Fusion for Energy work contracts specify that the contractor shall be wholly responsible for paying any amounts properly due (and undisputed) to its subcontractors.