Formwork Mason

You set and strip wall and column formwork, mostly with banches (climbing wall panels) and traditional plywood shutters. Days start around 7 and run to about 16h30, Monday to Friday, with the occasional Saturday morning when a pour has to be finished. You handle rebar placement, fix tie rods and props, check plumb and level before the concrete truck arrives, then vibrate and strike once it has set. Expect to move panels with the tower crane, so you work hand signals with the crane operator all day. Sites range from a four-storey apartment block in the 8th to retaining walls on a sloping plot out toward Aubagne.

At least 2 years setting and stripping banches and traditional formwork

Reading reinforcement and formwork plans on your own

Crane hand signals and safe load handling

Rebar tying and placement of tie rods, props and spacers

Valid hard-hat site certification (CACES is a plus, not required)

Shared accommodation arranged for the first three months, employer pays the deposit

Help with the move and your first administrative steps in France

Work van picks the crew up near the lodging each morning

Hot meal voucher for every full day on site

Pay starts at 1780 net per month and climbs to 2050 once you run a pour on your own and the site lead signs off. That step usually comes within the first year. After that the route opens toward team leader on the formwork crew.

Outdoor work in full sun through the Marseille summer, so early starts and plenty of water. Sites are well organised with proper edge protection and a clean concrete supply chain. You work in a crew of five or six, French spoken on site, and the foreman is used to bringing new arrivals up to speed.