On 15 October, EFFE and Assindatcolf brought together researchers, European Commission representatives, employers’ organisations and trade unions at the European Parliament for the event “From recognition to social dialogue: building the future of household employment in Europe”. The event was held under the patronage of MEP Idoia Mendia, as part of the European project BUILD (Building social partner capacity & social dialogue in labour-intensive sectors), which aims to strengthen the capacity of social partners and social dialogue in labour-intensive sectors. It was also part of the Family (Net) Work – Workshop on Home, Family and Domestic Work cycle. This think tank network, initiated by Assindatcolf, brings together several research centres and EFFE to compare national and European analyses of household employment, notably through an annual report. The meeting comes at a key moment, as Europe prepares its next frameworks on quality jobs and care, with the Quality Jobs Act, announced for the fourth quarter of 2026, and the future European Care Deal, expected in 2027.
More than 10 million people work in Europe in personal and household services, around 4% of total European employment. The event presented the last two chapters of the Family (Net) Work Report 2026: Assindatcolf’s, which outlines the main measures recently adopted for the sector in Italy, and EFFE’s, focusing on Spain, with a contribution by Professor Maria Gema Quintero Lima (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid). They were accompanied by the results of the PHS Employment Monitor 2026, a survey of more than 8,000 workers, employers, service users and sector organisations across 36 countries and in 26 languages.
In Italy, the sector counted 804,464 registered domestic workers in 2025, 2.3% fewer than the previous year, with an estimated irregularity rate of 55.4%. Among the Italian employers surveyed, the top priority is making services more affordable (36.2%), followed by more flexible rules for hiring migrant workers (35.4%) and a better-trained workforce (35.3%). Better institutional recognition ranks fourth (33.9%).
“The cost of household employment is a central issue for families, in Italy as in other EU countries,” said Andrea Zini, President of Assindatcolf and EFFE. In his view, acting on this issue supports families, but also helps workers move out of irregularity and makes the sector more attractive.
A round table moderated by Aude Boisseuil, General Delegate of EFFE, compared three situations: Italy, where a collective agreement structures the sector; Spain, where there is no dedicated dialogue body; and France, where the joint (paritary) model is well established. Discussions covered the sector’s potential and recognition, the benefits and limits of social dialogue, and the role of the European Union and national governments.
One conclusion emerged: recognition cannot be limited to a statement of principle or to the fight against undeclared work alone. It requires decent employment conditions, effective access to social protection, adequate risk prevention, recognition of skills, and representation that allows both workers and employers to take part in the decisions that affect them.
Participants highlighted the role the European Union could play in supporting this momentum, improving knowledge of the sector and encouraging social dialogue, while respecting the specificities of national systems. The future European Care Deal offers an opportunity to build on this reflection and to better integrate domestic workers into European care policies.
To read the reports, learn more about the Family (Net) Work network and find out about its upcoming events, visit the website