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Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) - Sectoral social dialogue

Social dialogue in the hotel, restaurant and catering sectors (HORECA) covers activities related to NACE (Rev.2) code 55 and 56, which include: 

  • accommodation (hotels, short-stay, camping grounds, trailer parks, etc),
  • food and beverage service activities (restaurants, catering, bars, taverns, coffee shops). 

The sectoral social dialogue committee has been created in 1999, replacing the informal working committee previously functioning since 1983. 

In 2020, the HORECA sector employed 11,3 million people (Eurostat SBS survey, 2020) which represents around 5% of total employment in the EU. More than 53% of all HORECA workers in the EU are women and more than 20% of all HORECA workers are 24 years old or younger (Eurofound Representativeness study, 2018). 

The sector faces the following main challenge:

  • digitalisation and its opportunities for the sector
  • labour and skill shortages
  • rise of the “collaborative economy”, particularly the so-called ‘peer-to-peer’ short-term accommodation rentals managed by online platforms.

Workers' organisations

Employers' organisations

Key areas

The current work programme focuses on:

  • addressing labour shortages in the sector
  • qualification, training & skills
  • platform economy
  • health & safety
  • just transition
  • refugees
  • undeclared work.

Activities and meetings

Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.

Achievements/Joint texts

Check the social dialogue texts database.