On the 22nd of May in Brussels, the second plenary session of the PHS Dialogue project marked a major milestone for the Personal and Household Services (PHS) sector in Europe. Initiated by the European Social Partners – EFFAT, EFFE, EFSI, and Uni Europa – the event brought together their members around a common goal: laying the groundwork for a structured social dialogue at the EU level.
Employer and worker organisations from the sector, members of our respective federations, came together to exchange views, advance the debate, share best practices, and highlight the specific realities, challenges and needs of the PHS sector. Their contributions helped strengthen the work programme and provided valuable input for the upcoming ScaleUp project.
This sector, which employs more than 10 million people across the EU, plays a crucial role in social cohesion, supporting the dignity, autonomy and quality of life of millions of citizens. Yet, it remains too often underrepresented in both national and European public policy frameworks.
At the heart of the discussions was a shared conviction: developing a European social dialogue is inseparable from strengthening national social dialogue. The two are intrinsically linked and must move forward hand in hand to bring about tangible solutions to the sector’s pressing challenges: labour shortages, undeclared work, precarious working conditions, and recognition of qualifications.
EFFE, representing user-employers at European level, reaffirmed the importance of giving a voice to these millions of atypical employers, who are often overlooked by institutional frameworks. Their recognition by the European Commission and Member States is a necessary condition for the sector’s full inclusion in EU social policies.
The session also highlighted several key achievements from recent months:
The project partners also showcased their mapping of relevant social actors across the 27 Member States, and the EU-wide survey that gathered over 6,500 responses, including many from user-employers. These actions reflect a strong, structured commitment to the professionalisation and recognition of the PHS sector.
Building on this momentum and the progress made so far, the Social Partners are now officially launching the next phase of their joint commitment: the ScaleUp Project. The objective is clear: to strengthen the structuring of the sector and empower national actors, enabling them to act at their level while being part of a shared European vision.
The Personal and Household Services sector deserves recognition equal to its daily impact on the lives of millions of Europeans. Social dialogue – both European and national – is key to unlocking this recognition, building sustainable solutions, and supporting the development of inclusive policies across the EU.