EFFE welcomes Fédération Mandataires de France (FMF) as its newest member. FMF is France’s national professional body representing and promoting the “mandate” model of household employment — a form of employer support that should not be confused with staffing or placement agencies. Under this model, a specialised organisation acts as the agent of the private individual who remains the legal employer, rather than acting as an employer itself.
FMF was founded to bring these mandate-based organisations together under one umbrella. Their role is to support household employers by advising them on their legal duties and responsibilities as employers. Today, FMF brings together more than 190 organisations and serves as the main point of contact for French public authorities on matters specific to this employment model.
A distinctive model: independence with support
This mandate model occupies a unique place in the household employment landscape, distinct from both direct employment and full-service staffing agencies. Under this arrangement, the mandate holder acts on behalf of the private employer — handling initial candidate screening, drawing up employment contracts, and issuing payslips — while the employer retains full legal responsibility for their employee throughout. This three-way relationship, built on trust and formalised through a mandate agreement, keeps accountability and freedom of choice at the heart of the employment relationship.
To uphold high standards across the sector, FMF created Qualimandat®, the first quality label dedicated specifically to the mandate model. Its goal is to protect everyone involved — the employer, the employee, and the mandate holder itself.
A valuable voice in European discussions
By joining EFFE, FMF aims to bring the distinct value of the French mandate model into European-level discussions on personal and household services. These are exactly the issues EFFE champions before EU institutions: greater recognition for the sector, improved professional standards for workers, and the fight against undeclared work.
Sharing proven national practices across member states is one of EFFE’s key strategies, and France’s experience with the mandate model offers a meaningful contribution to the broader conversation about structuring a sector that affects millions of workers and families across Europe.
EFFE looks forward to this new partnership and to the opportunities it creates for advancing the recognition and development of home employment throughout Europe.
Learn more: Fédération Mandataires | Réseau de confiance d’emploi à domicile