InGoodShape Study Visit in Luxembourg: Exploring Social Services, Funding, influence and Social Dialogue

From 14 to 16 October 2026, partners in the InGoodShape project gathered in Luxembourg for the final study visit; Hosted by COPAS and FEDAS, Luxembourgish members of the Social Employers, the visit brought together participants from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Malta, Romania and Spain to explore Luxembourg’s social and healthcare systems, learn about the organisation and funding of the sector, and exchange perspectives on collective labour agreements and the future challenges facing social services.

COPAS represents providers of assistance and care services for older people and people with illnesses, mental health needs or disabilities, in both residential settings and at home. FEDAS Luxembourg is a federation representing organisations active in the social sector, supporting its members and promoting the development of social services.

The first day explored social advocacy and included a visit to the Fondation J.P. Pescatore, offering participants an opportunity to discover a care facility in the Luxembourgish context.

The second day focused on two central topics for social services employers: the funding of the social and healthcare sectors and collective labour agreements. These discussions offered insights into the conditions in which social services organisations operate, including the relationship between funding, employment conditions and the provision of quality services. By exploring the Luxembourgish experience, participants had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of national approaches and exchange perspectives on issues relevant across Europe.

The study visit concluded on an overview of the challenges and future of the social and healthcare sectors, followed by a wrap-up and feedback session to reflect on the study visit and the wider inGoodShape project.

The Luxembourg meeting marked an important milestone, bringing together the learning and exchanges developed throughout the series of study visits, building on the work initiated under the previous proiect, IWorCon.

The study visits provided a framework for European partners to learn from one another and examine shared challenges from different perspectives. The knowledge and experiences gathered throughout these exchanges under InGoodShape will contribute to the updated Guide on How to Create and Manage Effective Employers’ Organisations in Social Services, helping to translate the project’s learning into a practical resource.

Know more about InGoodShape HERE.