"Quality Jobs 4 Care": A New Project to Strengthen Collective Bargaining in Social Services
The partners of the European project Quality Jobs 4 Care – Strengthening Collective Bargaining for Quality Jobs in Social Services officially launched their two-year initiative during the project’s kick-off meeting. The project brings together social service employers and trade unions to strengthen social dialogue and collective bargaining as key tools for improving working conditions and addressing workforce shortages across the sector.
Coordinated by UNIPSO (Belgium), the consortium includes the Federation of European Social Employers (Social Employers), the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and NEXEM (France). The project is funded by the European Union under the Social Dialogue programme and will run for 24 months.
The sectoral social partners stressed the importance of strong social dialogue in ensuring that care and social services workers have access to quality employment, while supporting service providers in responding to increasing demand and workforce pressures.
The project aims to support social partners in tackling these challenges through stronger collective bargaining structures and enhanced social dialogue. By improving working conditions and promoting quality jobs, the project seeks to contribute both to a more attractive social services sector and to high-quality care for all.
The project will also build on the existing Framework of Actions on Retention and Recruitment in Social Services agreed by the Social Employers and EPSU.
During the project, partners will:
- Receive training on EU labour law and relevant European legislation for social partners.
- Conduct a comparative analysis of collective agreements in eight European countries, identifying innovative practices related to working conditions and all aspects of employer / employees contractual relationship.
- Organise capacity-building events with employers’ organisations and trade unions, including activities in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.
- Promote mutual learning and exchange between social partners across the EU.
The initiative contributes to key European priorities, including the European Care Strategy, the European Pillar of Social Rights, and ongoing efforts to address labour and skills shortages in essential care and social services occupations.
About the Partnership
- UNIPSO (Coordinator, Belgium)
- Social Employers (Federation of European Social Employers)
- EPSU (European Federation of Public Service Unions)
- NEXEM (France)
More information about the Quality Jobs 4 Care project here.
