Social dialogue in the sector of social services cover activities related to NACE (Rev.2) codes 87 and 88 (residential care and non-residential social work), both the public sector part of social services and the for-profit and non-profit parts, provided by NGOs and private enterprises.
The sectoral social dialogue committee has been created in 2023. More than 9 million people are employed in the EU in the sector of social services (Eurofound representativeness study for LRG and Social Services, 2020).
The sector faces the following main challenges:
- promoting collective bargaining and social dialogue with a view to improving working conditions,
- recruiting and retaining workers
- health and safety at the workplace, including preventing, managing and reducing musculoskeletal disorders
- psycho-social risks at the workplace
- the increased use of digital technology
- the development of new care patterns
- the skills mismatch and regular upgrading and upskilling requirements
Workers' organisations
- European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)
- European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) - participation in plenary meetings
- UNI-Europa (UNI) - participation in plenary meetings
Employers' organisations
- Federation of European Social Employers (Social Employers)
- Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR-CCRE)
Key areas
The current work programme focuses on:
- occupational health and safety
- retain and attract the social services workforce.
- public procurement
- European Care Strategy follow-up
- strengthening the capacity of social servicessocial dialogue structures across all EU countries
- promoting an exchange of knowledge and experience among the social partners’ organisations and their representatives
- contributing to the policy making process at EU level
Activities and meetings
Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.
Achievements/Joint texts
Check the social dialogue texts database