Federation of European Social Employers
Social Employers
The Federation of European Social Employers is the voice of employers in the field of social services at European level.
ID: 900188431242-71
Lobbying Activity
Response to The new Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights
9 Sept 2025
The Social Employers welcome the European Commissions initiative to develop a new Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). This represents an opportunity to strengthen social rights, improve working conditions, and enhance the sustainability of Europes social model. Building on lessons learned from the first Action Plan (20212024), the new framework must place greater emphasis on access to quality social services, including long-term care and early childhood education and care, creating quality jobs, workforce sustainability and social dialogue. The new Plan should be both ambitious and practical, making sure that social rights lead to real improvements for people, workers, and service providers. The Federation of European Social Employers (the Social Employers) represents social services employers at the European level. It defines social services as care and support for older people, persons with disabilities, children, and other disadvantaged persons. The Federations goals are to strengthen employers positions at both European and national levels, develop common positions among members, and engage in dialogue with European trade unions. In doing so, the Social Employers support quality services and quality jobs in the sector.
Read full responseMeeting with Idoia Mendia (Member of the European Parliament)
22 Apr 2025 · Meeting with AESTE
Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and
31 Mar 2022 · EU response to the conflict in Ukraine, RRP, ESF+, Social economy, Child guarantee, support to the Roma.
Response to Proposal for a Council Recommendation on long-term care
24 Mar 2022
Joint Contribution of the Federation of European Social Employers and the European Federation of Public Service Unions
European Care Strategy: strong social dialogue in social services needed
The social services sector is a significant economic and social contributor in Europe, employing over 11 million people across the EU27 + UK. Social services are essential for social protection systems, equal opportunities, social cohesion, and inclusion. Yet they are facing major challenges in terms of funding, recruitment and retention, gender balance, ageing of the workforce, etc.
The Federation of European Social Employers (short: the Social Employers) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) have addressed many of these issues, including through joint statements and position papers, such as on Recruitment and Retention, on Digitalisation, and on the impact of Covid-19 on social services.
The Social Employers and EPSU strongly agree with the assessment of the situation and the objectives stated in the Call for Evidence for the European Care Strategy, especially concerning the rising demand for long-term care, the availability of and access to care, the quality of services, and the working conditions in the sector.
As stated in our December 2021 joint position paper on the European Care Strategy, we call together for a European Care Strategy that addresses and anticipates workforce needs and challenges. For this, a constructive and regular social dialogue, both at national and EU level, is needed. Capacity building in those countries where social dialogue is currently weak or non-existent is also crucial.
Setting up a Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Social Services at EU level, as jointly requested in 2021 by the Social Employers and EPSU, the two representative social partner organisations in social services, will be essential to address the challenges at hand, ensure access to good quality and affordable social services and improve working conditions.
Please also see attached two supporting documents (merged):
1. Joint Declaration "European Care Strategy: strong social dialogue in social services needed"
2. Joint Position Paper "A European Care Strategy must address Workforce Needs and Challenges"
The Federation of European Social Employers is the voice of employers in the field of social services at European level and has, according to
Eurofound, the most significant employer’s representativeness in the private sector part of social services. The Social Employers understand
social services to comprise all care and support services, especially for older persons, persons with disabilities, children, and other excluded
or disadvantaged persons. The Federation’s objectives are to strengthen the position of employers in social services at European and national level, establish common positions between members, and negotiate with European Trade Union Associations, representing workers in social services. By doing so, the Social Employers contribute to quality service provision and quality jobs.
The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) brings together trade unions from across Europe and represents over 8 million public service workers. It is the most representative European trade union organisation in the social services sector. EPSU works hard to deliver better working conditions, improved health and safety and enhanced rights for its members. By sitting down with employers at European level, we negotiate best practice agreements that improve the working lives of public service workers and ensure quality services for citizens.
Read full responseResponse to Social Economy Action Plan
23 Apr 2021
EU Action Plan for Social Economy: The Social Employers position
The Federation of European Social Employers strongly supports this initiative, which should include clear and concrete objectives within a set time frame.
The Social Economy makes a significant contribution to employment and social cohesion. In many regions, Social Economy organisations (cooperatives, associations, foundations, mutuals, social enterprises, etc.) are the main providers of essential services for the population, such as social services. Many of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights are implemented on the ground by Social Economy actors.
The Social Economy has a demonstrated potential for growth in times of crisis. Its capacity to bring rapid solutions to pressing problems has been highlighted throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Many organisations and employees in the Social Economy have been working on the front lines during the pandemic and they still ensure the continuity of essential services, such as services for older persons, persons with disabilities, children, and other persons in need of care and support.
The Action Plan should highlight the contribution of Social Economy actors during the crisis, as well as their role in lifting societies out of the crisis. It should propose concrete measures for better support systems that prioritise them, also in terms of equipment allotments and funding.
Definition and visibility
Very few Member States have a clear definition of the Social Economy. Also, many concepts, models and systems related to Social Economy lack clear definitions at European level. A common framework defined by the EU would help to implement policies in favour of the Social Economy at EU level, but also to have clear definitions at national level. The role of the Social Economy must be recognised as essential to achieve Europe’s social objectives. As key actors, the employer’s perspective should be included in the Action Plan.
Better recognition through stronger financing support
One way of fostering a more human-centred economy is through the promotion of Social Economy providers, which prioritise social objectives and social values through innovative solutions. However, providers often struggle to access mainstream finance. Underfunding of Social Economy organisations providing social services entails that in some countries, services are underdeveloped and cannot reach their full potential. The Action Plan should call on Member States to develop and reinforce EU, national, regional, or local funding instruments, and promote policies for public and private investments in the Social Economy, including social economy organisations in social services.
Digitalisation & skills development
There is a need to develop new skills in the digital field as well as to face structural needs in social services. Skills development should be a priority, not only in the context of digitalisation, but also in the context of other skills needs, to face the ageing of the population and the changing ways social services are provided. The Action Plan should promote policies helping the development of core skills and new skills and stimulate innovation and new technologies.
The role of social dialogue
Social dialogue is a key tool for the Social Economy actors to be better involved in the determination of social and economic policies, to improve working conditions and social security. Social dialogue can help to best respond to common challenges, linked to workforce, skills, recruitment & retention, workforce mobility, safety & health at work, digitalisation, etc. The Action Plan should address the need to further develop social dialogue in the Social Economy, and especially at sectoral level in social services, at national and European level. To re-emphasise this, the Social Employers and EPSU have submitted an additional joint input to this Roadmap.
Read full responseResponse to Green Paper on Ageing
11 Dec 2020
Summary: Social services enable older persons to live dignified lives within their communities. They also contribute to implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, such as principle 18 on the right to affordable long-term care services. Services for older persons also allow higher labor market participation of women, who otherwise often take on the role of informal carers within their families.
Demographic change brings about many challenges for the social services sector. An ageing population means a growing need for care and support. Social care needs of older persons are often unmet due to a longstanding underfunding of the sector, underdeveloped services in some European countries and staff shortages leading to low wages and poor working conditions.
Social services struggle to attract and retain their workforce, because the above challenges also lead to a negative image of the sector in the general public.
Therefore, the forthcoming green paper on ageing should address the need for
- Sufficient funding to improve wages and working conditions,
- Recognition of the social services’ key role in our societies,
- Development and use of innovation and digital technologies,
- More cooperation between the health and social care sectors,
- Social partner’s cooperation and social dialogue at all levels, to improve working conditions, career paths, skills, gender balance, and make working in care more attractive.
Read full responseMeeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)
4 Mar 2020 · Social Europe, equal opportunities for all, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion