EU Social Partners Joint Strategy to raise PHS sectors’ profile

On March 11, 2022, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), the European Federation for Family Employment and Home Care (EFFE), the European Federation for Services to Individuals (EFSI), and Uni Europa issued a Press release sealing their commitment towards increased recognition for the PHS sectors.

Objectives were set to improve the PHS sectors’ profile, recognition and value at the European level. More than that, they mutually recognized each other as representative social partners at the European level for the PHS sector. Also, the social partners decided on a 2-year work strategy to address their commitments and considered that it should be done through six main areas of action.

First, they decided to be highly involved to include the PHS sectors in the upcoming EU Care Strategy. Moreover, they aim to reinforce Social Partners Capacity through increased representation at national level. Then, the social partners want to actively tackle the issue of undeclared work in the PHS sector. Employers and Trade Unions in the PHS sectors emphasize the need to foster professionalization of the sectors, securing social protection and address occupational health and safety.

Moreover, the EFSI president – Herwig Muyldermans – welcomes “the acknowledgment of each other’s’ representativeness as EU-level PHS Social Partners through the adoption of this common work programme. For several years, EFSI has been actively committed to pursue a structured and stronger dialogue at EU level and this is a major step in the right direction”. Also, he turns to the European Institutions to ensure that the PHS workforce and employers receive proper recognition and support by “PHS out of the shadows”.

Read the full press release here.